Sleep: the best position to protect against brain diseases and to prolong life

Poor sleep and poor sleeping positions are thought to increase susceptibility to age-related diseases, including heart attacks and Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that untreated obstructive sleep apnea, which a person suffers from, can accelerate the process of biological aging of the body.

“The presence of obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a high risk of hypertension, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and many other chronic diseases,” the scientists state.

Scientists were interested in what factors contribute to epigenetic acceleration of age – a phenomenon associated with the development of chronic diseases and a tendency to early mortality. Experts studied whether apnea would affect the systemic acceleration of aging. They concluded that “sleep disturbances caused by obstructive sleep apnea, which leads to reduced oxygen levels during sleep, contribute to a faster biological aging process.”

Commenting on this finding, sleep expert Kira Pritchard said that sleep in a certain position can help prevent apnea, thereby increasing life expectancy.

“Sleeping on your back is associated with increased snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. In this position, your jaw, tongue, and other soft tissues are directed toward the throat, causing soft tissue collapse that narrows the airways, makes breathing difficult, and causes severe snoring. Sleeping on the side is one of the best positions for a sleeping person, it can prevent snoring.”

Also, the expert says, sleeping on the side can help with other health problems. In particular, it prevents the rise of stomach acid and keeps the contents of the stomach in place better than sleeping on the back or stomach – this protects a person from the development of acid reflux.

In addition, in this position, the brain is better cleansed of toxins that helps prevent neurodegenerative diseases – for example, Alzheimer's disease.