Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Sleep Medications Linked to Reduced Deep Sleep and Disrupted Memory
Oct 15, 2025
05:58
- Popular sleep drugs like Ambien and benzodiazepines interfere with deep sleep, blocking your brain's natural cleaning system that removes toxic proteins tied to Alzheimer's disease
- Long-term use of these medications shifts you into lighter sleep stages, reducing the restorative slow-wave activity your brain needs for memory, focus, and repair
- A 15-year study of older adults found that frequent sleep medication users nearly doubled their risk of developing dementia, with the strongest effect seen in White participants
- Insomnia sufferers who avoided medication had stronger brain rhythms for memory than those who relied on drugs, showing that natural sleep protects brain function better than drug-induced sedation
- Practical steps like keeping a consistent sleep schedule, creating a cool, dark, and quiet bedroom, practicing relaxation before bed, and supporting your circadian rhythm with daily activity and daylight help you sleep deeply without risking long-term brain health