Understanding the Stages of Sleep and Their Importance

Did you know that something as stimulating as quality sleep could be your secret weapon for aging like a pro? In this insightful episode of the Aging Like A Pro podcast, we sit down with Dr. Christian Agudelo, a renowned sleep neurologist from the University of Miami, to explore the fascinating science of sleep and its profound impact on brain health.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 The Importance of Sleep Stages: Non-REM and REM sleep stages are essential for brain restoration, with Stage 3 non-REM facilitating brain "cleaning" and REM consolidating daily experiences into long-term knowledge.

🔹 Benefits of Quality Sleep: Proper sleep boosts mood, cognitive function, and protects against aging-related diseases like dementia, stroke, and heart conditions.

🔹 Sleep Hygiene Tips: Consistent wake-up times, sunlight exposure, physical activity, and a calming bedtime routine are crucial for optimizing sleep quality.

If you're looking to demystify sleep or improve your sleep habits, this episode is a must-listen. Prioritize your sleep—your brain will thank you!

Aging Like a Pro began as a healthy aging seminar series in partnership with community centers, libraries and senior organizations that focuses on mitigating social isolation and loneliness while offering information for healthy aging and brain health.

Genetic factors cannot be controlled, but many environmental and lifestyle factors can be prevented or managed to reduce risk of memory decline and even Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can participate in the cutting-edge research being done at the University of Miami’s McKnight Brain Institute, contact us here:

umiamimbi@miami.edu

We wish to thank the Ansin Foundation, Community Foundation of Broward, and the McKnight Brain Research Foundation for their support.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Christian Agudelo is a Miami native who pursued a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University before attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he engaged in research on Parkinson’s Disease and neuroimaging with NIMH R25 and T23 fellowships. He completed his neurology residency and sleep medicine fellowship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he serves as a clinical instructor and Evelyn F. McKnight Neurocognitive Scholar. Dr. Agudelo focuses his research on the relationship between sleep and cognitive decline, aiming to identify sleep biomarkers for preclinical cognitive decline, particularly among historically understudied Black and Latino populations. As Director of Education for the McKnight Brain Institute, he develops programs for cognitive neurology trainees and educates the public on sleep and cognitive health. Dr. Agudelo is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, highlighting his commitment to clinical practice, research, and service.

Find out more at: https://mbi-umiami.org/about-mbi/

Host Bio:

Rosa Hart, BSN, RN, SCRN combines her expertise in neuro care and patient advocacy with a passion for storytelling. She is the creator and host of the internationally award-winning podcast "Stronger After Stroke", developed for the Norton Neuroscience Institute. This resource has reached stroke survivors and their loved ones worldwide, providing hope and practical strategies for achieving their best quality of life after stroke. Consequently, she is dedicated to amplifying public health messaging through media.

Connect on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-hart-scrn/