The Benefits of Sleep Enhancement for Cognitive Functions

Maintaining a natural sleep cycle is crucial, as the body has a regular circadian rhythm that regulates daily functions. While we sleep, our endocrine system releases critical hormones that support metabolism, cellular regeneration, tissue repair, and cognitive processing.

Sleep disturbances present a significant problem for children with developmental disorders. Children with Down syndrome may suffer from sleep-related breathing disorders due to congenitally narrow airways, increased adenoid and tonsil size, and reduced muscle tone. Other sleep issues may be present in children with autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disabilities, and other health concerns.

Along with the impact of sleep disturbances on children with special needs, there is also the additional stress placed on parents and the family as a whole when sleep deprivation is present.

One of the most crucial actions is to help your child and all family members achieve quality sleep each night. In some instances, that may require medical intervention, such as removal of the adenoids and tonsils if they cause obstruction. You should discuss the best steps to address specific concerns with your child’s doctor.

A 2022 study of children aged 9 and 10 compared those who received nine or more hours of sleep each night to those who slept for less than the recommended nine hours. Brain imaging was used to assess the differences in brain structure and function at the start and follow-up of the two-year study. The study is ongoing, and there will be additional measurements and analyses in the future.

Here are some of the current findings:

• Children in the sleep deficit group had less volume or grey matter in certain brain areas associated with memory, attention, and inhibition control than those who got the recommended amount of sleep.
• The sleep-deficient children had more behavioral and mental health challenges, including anxiety, aggressive behavior, depression, impulsivity, stress, and thinking problems.
• Impaired cognitive functions such as conflict-solving, decision-making, learning, and working memory were present.

Another study looked at preschool children and found that those who napped had better memory recall than those who did not take daytime naps. Research is crucial to determine the impact of sleep on childhood brain and physical development. One study of infants found that those who were later diagnosed with autism had trouble sleeping during their first 12 months. Sleep problems during those early months could alter the growth trajectory in the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with learning and memory. Hippocampus size can affect sleep in older children and adults.

If sleep is a problem for your child, we provide several links to help you learn more about improving sleep duration and quality. Meanwhile, check out some steps you can take now to help your child (and yourself) sleep better.

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This post originally appeared on our March/April 2024 Magazine