Disrupted sleep ‘may affect memory’

People who suffer from disrupted sleep may have memory problems in later life, new research suggests.

Scientists have linked poor sleep with a build up of amyloid plaques — sticky clumps of protein that build up in the brain which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers tested the sleep patterns of 100 people aged 45 to 80, and found that 25% of the participants had evidence of amyloid plaques, which can appear years before the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease begin.