Laying in bed, the mind is filled with endless thoughts—those of regrets, of worry, and everything in between. It is a familiar struggle, that especially when sleep seems to be very far away. The longer these thoughts run, it becomes more difficult to transition into deep sleep. Usually, deep sleep or REM begins around 90 minutes after falling asleep, cycling through several times in a night.

It is well known that the key to a healthy body is sleep, which keeps our brains working properly too. However, many overlook the profound impact it has on our cognitive functions, particularly as we age, particularly in timing when entering into REM sleep-the dream phase-that recent studies showed is significantly disrupted in early AD. Recent studies have suggests that a delay in reaching REM sleep may be a subtle yet crucial indicator of Alzheimer’s, providing a potential early warning system before more overt symptoms manifest. In this article, we explore the relationship between REM sleep and Alzheimer’s, examining how this connection could redefine early detection and preventative strategies.

Why is REM Sleep Important?

The REM sleep, also known as the "dream phase," is a crucial part of the sleep cycle in which our brains polish memories in our minds, with an emphasis on more emotionally charged ones. It arises after a succession of non-REM stages, each one deeper than the one before it. Usually, an individual's sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes, cycling through four cycles throughout the night. Whereas younger people generally experience quick and seamless entry to REM sleep, this tends to be much later and disrupted during the process with advancing age. Many ascribe such changes in older people as effects of typical aging; instead, however, some researchers propose that it indicates early onset Alzheimer's disease in delayed REM sleep.

During deep sleep, the brain performs crucial functions to support overall health. These restorative processes are essential for optimal physical and cognitive well-being:

• Processes information for memory consolidation and learning
• Regenerates cells for tissue and organ repair
• Restores energy for physical and mental activities
• Increases blood supply to muscles for recovery
• Promotes growth and repair of tissues and bones
• Strengthens the immune system, enhancing defense against illnesses

How Delayed REM Sleep and Alzheimer's Connect?

A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia examined at how long it takes for people to get into REM sleep and the association with biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. The study only included participants older than 50 years and discovered that a long latency to get into REM sleep, known as REM latency or REML, was associated with higher levels of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau proteins in the brain, which are key markers of Alzheimer's pathology. These markers usually start building up long before clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's, indicating that loss of REM sleep may be one of the first signs of neurodegeneration.

Participants with long REM latency had higher levels of p-tau181, a protein associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and lower levels of BDNF, a protein crucial for brain health. These results were significant even after controlling for several confounding factors, suggesting that REM latency may be a useful biomarker for risk of Alzheimer's.

How Delayed REM Sleep Affects the Brain Function?

The transition of the brain from NREM into REM sleep is pivotal, not just a time for vivid dreaming but for processing and storing memories. REM sleep is one of the phases needed for emotional regulation and consolidation of memory, which are crucial aspects of cognition. Failure to enter into REM sleep on schedule can interfere with such processes, causing problems in memory recall over a period of time. This could also be due to REM sleep behaviour disorder which is a parasomnia characterized by dream-enactment behaviors that occur when REM sleep atonia is lost.

The study further pointed out that altered deep sleep, or slow-wave sleep (SWS), was correlated with Alzheimer's biomarkers. SWS is the deepest phase of sleep and is most crucial for rehabilitation of the body and the brain; it's very pivotal to memory formation. The progression to dementia has shown an increased risk when slow-wave sleep is decreased. It is thus evident that both deep sleep and REM play a role in maintaining cognitive health well into old age.

Also Read: Overthinking Before Bed? Try Cognitive Shuffling To Silence Your Thoughts For Better Sleep

Can Slow-Wave Sleep be the Body's Defense Against Alzheimer's?

While slowing REM sleep might be a concern related to Alzheimer's disease, the slowing of slow-wave sleep needs to be taken into consideration. During SWS, the brain clears away metabolic waste products, such as amyloid-beta, through a glymphatic clearance process. Disruptions in this process, due to insufficient SWS, may allow these toxic proteins to accumulate and foster the development of Alzheimer's. Though the association between reduced SWS and the risk of Alzheimer's has been well studied, interest in the effects of REM sleep latency as a more direct biomarker has garnered much interest.

Tips For Better Sleep

Even though research is ongoing about the link between sleep disorders and Alzheimer's, experts have already agreed that good sleep hygiene could reduce some risk factors. For those worried about Alzheimer's, improving their sleep quality especially during the smooth transition to REM sleep is an important step to safeguarding their brain health. Here are some simple strategies that help improve the quality of sleep:

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants close to bedtime because it will interfere with your ability to fall asleep as well as go into REM sleep.
• Make sure your sleep environment is conducive to rest—ideal conditions are dark, quiet, and cool. A comfortable mattress and pillows help you stay longer in deeper sleep stages.
• Conditions like sleep apnea, which interrupt breathing during sleep, can significantly delay REM sleep. Seeking treatment for sleep apnea can improve the quality of your sleep and reduce your risk of cognitive decline.
• Engaging in physical activity earlier in the day promotes better sleep quality at night. It can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, ensuring a smoother progression into REM sleep.
• This habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time daily helps to support the body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Consistency is the key in achieving deep and restorative sleep.

A revolution may be brought by the ever-increasing number of studies associating sleep disturbances, especially delayed REM sleep, with Alzheimer's risk. In that case, further studies might indeed confirm that attempts to modify the latency of REM sleep may diminish the risk for Alzheimer's; this would set the stage for new therapeutic methods aimed at modifying sleep quality for the prevention of Alzheimer's.

As science comes to know more about the intricate relationships that exist between sleep and Alzheimer's disease, it's evident that sleep isn't just a period of inactivity; rather, it's essential in keeping the brain healthy. However, as more evidence has been revealed to date regarding the effects of delayed REM sleep, it still calls for additional studies to provide more insight on how this delays in REM could potentially affect someone with Alzheimer's disease. If a person wishes to protect his cognitive function at older ages, nothing is perhaps stronger than this sleeping habit for protecting against such a devastating disorder as Alzheimer's.

Association of rapid eye movement sleep latency with multimodal biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2025

We have all had that mini meltdown finding a clump of hair in the shower drain or a brush full of hair after combing hair. While blaming stress or the changing seasons feels comforting, experts warn that your body might be sounding a nutritional alarm. Yes, your hair loss might be less about the weather and more about what is missing from your plate.

Listen to What Your Body’s Saying

“Seeing a lot of hair strands on your pillow cover feels distressing,” says Dr Khushboo Jha, MBBS, MD, Chief Dermatologist Consultant at Metro Hospital and Founder of One Skin Clinic, Faridabad, “but you need to listen to your body. It’s the way it communicates that your body is struggling with some deeper concern, probably nutrient deficiency.”

Hair, it turns out, is a high-maintenance tissue. It’s fast-growing and metabolically active, demanding a steady supply of nutrients. But it’s not considered essential for survival. So in times of nutritional crisis, your body reroutes vitamins and minerals to more important organs like your heart or brain, leaving your hair stranded without support.

“If your diet is insufficient, especially lagging in iron, vitamin D, Vitamin B complex such as vitamin B12 and biotin, zinc, protein, etc., hair will be the first one to suffer,” says Dr Jha.

Why Vegans, Crash Dieters, and IBS Patients Should Pay Extra Attention

Dr Ameesha Mahajan, Cosmetic Dermatologist and Founder of Eden Skin Clinic, agrees. “Vegetarians or vegans are more prone to deficiencies, especially when it comes to vitamin B12, iron and protein deficiency,” she says. And it’s not just about what you eat, but also how well your body absorbs it. “Impaired gut absorption disorders such as coeliac disease or IBD… can lead to extreme hair thinning,” Dr Mahajan adds.

Crash diets and eating disorders like bulimia nervosa don’t do your strands any favours either. These behaviours disrupt the body’s nutritional balance and can prematurely push hair into the shedding phase.

The Medical Jargon You Didn’t Know You Needed: Telogen Effluvium

One particular fallout of nutrient shortfalls is telogen effluvium, a name for hair falling out sooner than it should. Dr Mahajan points to iron deficiency anaemia as a common trigger. “It is strongly associated with telogen effluvium, a condition where hair prematurely enters the shedding phase,” she explains.

In other words, if you’ve been feeling unusually tired and your hair is thinning, it might be more than a coincidence; it could be low iron or another nutrient throwing your hair growth cycle off track.

Don’t Pop Just Any Pill

Before you go on a supplement shopping spree, both experts urge caution. “Before self-prescribing supplements, experts urge a full nutritional workup to identify what’s missing,” says Dr Jha. Overloading on certain vitamins can do more harm than good.

Dr Mahajan agrees. “It’s best to get blood parameters checked for any nutrient deficiencies before beginning any supplement to be sure.”

So yes, multivitamins are tempting but flying blind could backfire. Know what you’re low on before topping up.

Eat for Your Hair: What to Load on Your Plate

Both dermatologists suggest nourishing your scalp from within. Dr Jha recommends “a diet loaded with whole grains, legumes, millets, dairy products, nuts, seeds, etc.,” noting these support not only hair health but also overall wellbeing.

Dr Mahajan says that these foods “help to restore the lost nutrients, making the hair denser and thicker.” Think of them as edible armour for your follicles.

Still Losing Hair? Time to Dig Deeper

If your hair continues to vanish despite eating all the right things, don’t ignore it. “If still you face symptoms, consult a dermatologist for ruling out hormonal or other health conditions,” advises Dr Jha.

Dr Mahajan adds, “If you still suffer from hair fall, despite making changes in your diet, it’s time to consult a dermatologist, as it might be due to some hormonal disruption or any other autoimmune-related cause.” Because sometimes, hair loss isn’t just about what’s missing but what’s going wrong beneath the surface.

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death globally, and while technology has evolved to the point where predicting heart attacks is possible, the medical world still struggles to put this into practice. Experts point to both promise and pitfalls in predictive cardiology, revealing why such life-saving tech is not yet a mainstream reality.

The Tech Is Here, But We Are Not Using It Enough

Dr. Vikrant B. Khese, Cardiologist at Jehangir Hospital, Pune, says the idea that we can predict heart attacks before they happen is both “exciting and frustrating, because while the technology exists, its real-world implementation remains limited.”

He explains that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have incredible potential in this field. These tools can analyse vast datasets, such as blood pressure, lipid profiles, ECGs, imaging, and even genetic markers, to uncover patterns that might be invisible to the human eye. “These tools can detect subtle risk factors that may be missed in routine clinical practice. However, several challenges continue to hold us back,” he says.

One of the biggest concerns is the source of the data feeding these algorithms. “The majority of AI models are trained on Western datasets that do not reflect the unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors of Indian or Asian populations. This creates a mismatch, resulting in lower accuracy and reliability for non-Western patients.”

Dr. Khese adds that cardiovascular disease is deeply multifactorial. It is not just about clinical metrics. “Stress, socioeconomic status, cultural diet patterns, air pollution, and unstructured physical activity all influence risk but are difficult to quantify in a dataset. AI still struggles with these intangible but crucial variables.”

And even when predictive tools are developed, another hurdle lies in the healthcare system’s ability to use them. “Data-driven predictions can only be as good as the data input. In India, inconsistent electronic medical records, underreporting, and fragmented healthcare systems make it harder to gather high-quality longitudinal data, limiting the AI's learning potential.”

Crucially, there is also a behavioural gap. “Even when prediction tools exist, they are not routinely used by clinicians due to scepticism, lack of training, or workflow disruption. Bridging the gap between innovation and implementation is a major hurdle.”

According to Dr. Khese, technology must complement clinical judgement, not replace it. “AI is a powerful tool but not a standalone solution. Until we combine high-quality, representative data with clinical wisdom and system-level integration, the promise of predicting heart attacks before they happen will remain underutilised. The future lies in synergy; technology must empower doctors, not replace them.”

Prediction Tools Exist—But We’re Waiting for Symptoms

Dr. Vijay D'Silva, Medical Director of White Lotus International Hospital and Clinical Advisor and Mentor of Heartnet India, backs this view and draws attention to major international trials. “Research from the University of Oxford has suggested that a global trial of an AI tool that can predict the 10-year risk of heart attack has shown that in about 45 per cent of patients with chest pain, treatment could be improved,” he shares.

“Early detection of cardiac risk allows timely treatment and monitoring that can help reduce the mortality rate,” he says, explaining that most coronary blockages are asymptomatic. “Some present with chest, arm or jaw pain on exertion (angina pectoris). Few present as a heart attack or sudden death. People seek treatment after a heart attack when the damage is already done.”

According to Dr. D’silva, “With the help of the right tools, it is now possible to predict a heart attack before it occurs.” Among these tools are blood tests, ECGs, and advanced risk calculators such as the AHA PREVENT calculator, ASCVD Risk Calculator Plus, QRISK3, and SCORE2.

He points out how the 2023 AHA PREVENT calculator estimates 10-year cardiovascular risk in individuals aged 30 to 79, and 30-year risk in adults aged 30 to 59. “Early-stage detection of CVD minimises the cost and also reduces the CVD mortality rate,” he says.

This tool divides patients into four risk categories, each with its own treatment strategy:

• Low risk (<5%): Maintain healthy lifestyles and reassess every five years.
• Borderline risk (5–7.4%): Lifestyle changes and monitoring of risk-enhancing factors like BP, sugar, weight and lipids. CAC scoring can further stratify risk. Annual reassessment recommended.
• Intermediate risk (7.5–19.9%): Calls for lifestyle management, preventive medication (statins or aspirin), stress testing and CT coronary angiogram. Yearly reassessment is needed.
• High risk (≥20%): Requires intensive lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, imaging and close follow-up.

Despite these advances, Dr D'Silva says, “The gap lies in implementation. Most people still wait for the symptoms to appear before seeing a doctor. Heart attacks, unfortunately, strike without any warning, especially in women and younger patients, where symptoms can be atypical.”

He stresses that predictive cardiology is not yet standard in clinical practice. “People who are at risk seek care when symptoms arise. But in cardiology, symptoms often come too late. Up to 50 per cent of heart attack victims had no prior warning signs.”

Why Risk Calculators Are NotFoolproof

• Patients with LDL cholesterol ≥190 mg/dL
• Those with familial hypercholesterolemia
• Patients with type 1 diabetes
• People with other risk-enhancing factors like family history of early cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic inflammatory diseases (psoriasis, RA, lupus), or early menopause

The Way Forward

Dr. D'silva concludes, “The ability to predict heart attacks is advancing continuously, but we need public awareness and equitable access to make predictive cardiology more standard.”

In short, we can predict heart att but until we normalise risk screening, improve data systems, and bridge the clinical gap, too many heart attacks will continue to catch people and systems off guard.

When strands clog your shower drain or your brush looks full every time you run it through your hair, panic is a natural response. Hair loss, or alopecia, is not just a cosmetic concern; it often hints at something deeper. And yet, thanks to internet half-truths and old wives’ tales, myths about alopecia spread faster than a viral meme. On World Alopecia Day, we turn to experts to separate fact from fiction while spotlighting the hidden medical conditions that might be behind the hair fall.

It is Not Just "Shedding Season": Medical Reasons Behind Hair Loss

Autoimmune Disorders (Alopecia Areata):

Hormonal Imbalances (Thyroid Disorders and PCOS):

Nutritional Deficiencies:

The good news? “Early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions can help restore hair growth and prevent permanent damage,” he assures.

Wigging Out Over Myths

Myth 1: “Only men experience alopecia.”

“While male pattern baldness is more commonly discussed, women are equally susceptible to alopecia due to hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, and nutritional deficiencies,” says Dr Gangurde. Yes, ladies lose hair too and not just from brushing too hard.

Myth 2: “Stress alone is responsible for hair loss.”

While stress is definitely not good for your scalp’s health, it is not the lone cause. “Alopecia usually has multiple triggers, including genetics, autoimmune conditions, and underlying medical issues,” explains Dr Gangurde. Translation: stressing about stress causing hair fall might make things worse.

Myth 3: “Alopecia is always permanent and untreatable.”

This one might be the most damaging myth of all. “Many forms of hair loss, especially those caused by hormonal or nutritional factors, are reversible with timely medical intervention,” says Dr Gangurde. PRP therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes can all turn things around if you act early enough.

Do Not Just Shed Tears, Seek Help

If your hair has been thinning or falling out in clumps, resist the urge to DIY it with oils, serums, or social media hacks. “If you experience sudden or persistent hair loss, consult a dermatologist or trichologist promptly,” advises Dr Gangurde. “Early intervention can address the root cause, prevent progression, and in many cases, restore healthy hair growth.” Remember that alopecia is not just a surface-level issue. And with the right diagnosis, it is often more fixable than you think.