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Dementia is the name given to a group of symptoms linked to an ongoing decline in brain function. You could be raising your risk of the neurodegenerative condition if you usually sleep on
your stomach, it's been claimed. There are a number of different types of dementia, and the most common in the UK is Alzheimer's disease. Diagnosing the condition early could help
to slow down the condition’s progress. Making some small lifestyle changes could lower your chances of developing Alzheimer's in later life. One of the best ways to protect against
dementia is to regularly sleep on your side, it's been claimed. READ MORE: DEMENTIA SYMPTOMS - BEING EASILY UPSET IS A SIGN OF VASCULAR DEMENTIA "Gravity is a big factor in a
mechanical system with pipes and valves that’s moving fluids, so it’s not surprising that sleeping sitting up doesn’t let waste drain efficiently," he wrote for PosturePractice.com.
"Neither does stomach sleeping. "Sleeping on your back is somewhat better. However, for best flow to allow the glymphatics to drain fluid and the buildup of toxins, the researchers
recommend lying on your side. "In other words, over decades sleep quality, quantity and position can play a really big role in how you age – as well as your risk for many illnesses.
"It’s a strong reason to prioritise a good night’s sleep as a vital facet of overall health." Making sure that you get a good quality night's sleep is also important to
protect against dementia, he added. If you regularly wake up in the night, you're not giving the brain enough time to 'clean' itself. The brain needs to switch off for a
period of time to get rid of the daily 'junk' it accumulates. But just because you wake up often in the night, or if you usually sleep on your stomach, it doesn't necessarily
mean that you're 100 percent going to develop dementia. There’s no certain way to prevent dementia from developing, but there are ways to lower your risk, said the NHS. Eating a
healthy, balanced diet should help to lower your chances of developing dementia. It’s also important to do enough exercise. Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity activity every week. There are around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia, and the condition affects one in every six people over 80 years old.
