Inadequate quality sleep in teens may increase risk of multiple sclerosis later in life, study suggests

A case-control study has been published online that suggests that poor or disturbed sleep in teens may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life. journal of neurology.

Researchers suggest that getting enough restorative sleep at a young age may help avoid this condition.

Multiple sclerosis is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors such as smoking, teenage weight (BMI), Epstein-Barr virus infection, sun exposure and vitamin D, researchers note .

Shift work is also associated with an increased risk of the condition, especially at a young age, but it is not entirely clear whether sleep patterns (duration, circadian clock disruption, sleep quality) affect this risk. They add that it has not been evaluated.

To investigate this further, the researchers utilized a population-based case-control study, the Epidemiological Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis (EIMS).

Patients with multiple sclerosis were recruited from hospitals and privately owned neurology clinics and two healthy people randomly selected from the National Population Register between 2005 and 2013 and 2015 and 2018. matched for age, sex, and region of residence.

The researchers focused specifically on sleep patterns between the ages of 15 and 19, and the final analysis included 2,075 people with MS and 3,164 without the condition in this age group at the time they were recruited into the study. was

Participants were asked about their sleep patterns at different ages. Sleep time on work or school days, weekends and holidays. Short sleep was defined as less than 7 hours per night. Adequate sleep of 7-9 hours; long sleep of 10 hours or more.

The change in sleep duration between work/school days and weekends/holidays was calculated over 10 years for 15-19 year olds and categorized into <1 h/night, 1-3 h, and >3 h.

Study participants were also asked to rate sleep quality for different age groups using a 5-point scale.

The average age at diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was 34 years. The length and quality of sleep in adolescents was associated with the risk of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and less sleep and poorer sleep quality were associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Compared with 7–9 h/night sleep in teens, short sleep was associated with subsequent risk of developing MS after taking into account various potentially influencing factors such as BMI and smoking at 20 years of age. It was associated with being 40% higher.

However, longer sleep periods, including weekends and holidays, were not associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis. It was associated with a 50% higher risk of developing the condition.

Changes in sleep timing between work/school days and weekends/holidays did not seem to have an effect.

Even after excluding shift workers, the findings were similar.

The researchers caution that the findings should be interpreted with caution because of the possibility of reverse causation. While known to affect sexual signaling, the body clock is also involved in regulating immune responses.

In addition, sleep deprivation and sleep disturbances are common among teenagers, and this phenomenon is partly explained by physiological, psychological and social changes during this age period, they explain. increase.

“There is also a demonstrated link between social media use and sleep patterns. The availability of technology and internet access contributes to sleep deprivation among adolescents and represents an important public health problem,” they said. is adding.

“Educational interventions directed at adolescents and their parents are important regarding the adverse health effects of sleep deprivation. Adequate restorative sleep, which is necessary for adequate immune function, is therefore another protective factor against MS,” the researchers concluded.