Could Sleeping on Your Back Increase Your Risk of Alzheimer’s?

Could Sleeping on Your Back Increase Your Risk of Alzheimer’s? There is no direct scientific evidence suggesting that sleeping on your back increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, recent research on sleep position and brain health has explored how different sleeping positions might influence the brain’s ability to clear waste products, such as amyloid-beta plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer’s.

One study conducted on animals, published in 2015, found that sleeping on your side (lateral position) might be more effective for removing brain waste than sleeping on your back or stomach. The study hypothesized that side-sleeping might better facilitate the function of the brain’s glymphatic system, which is responsible for clearing out toxins.

While this research is interesting, it has not yet been conclusively proven in humans, and there’s no evidence directly linking back sleeping with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Other factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, diet, and overall sleep quality, play a much larger role in Alzheimer’s risk than sleep position alone.

Maintaining good sleep hygiene, regular exercise, and a healthy diet are the most well-supported ways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.