Researchers have found that night owls are more likely to suffer from cognitive decline than morning people, according to a recent study by Ana Wenzler and colleagues. The UMCG project, BIRD-NL, aimed to investigate ways to prevent dementia, as the risk of age-related cognitive decline increases with age.
Wenzler’s research focuses on sleep patterns and found that people who go to bed late and wake up early tend to exhibit poorer cognitive function over a 10-year period. The study showed that evening people are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and poor eating habits, which can accelerate cognitive decline.
Interestingly, the study’s findings were most pronounced among higher-educated individuals, who often have irregular sleep schedules due to work demands. Wenzler suggests that working against one’s natural sleep-wake cycle as little as possible may be beneficial in mitigating cognitive decline.
While some factors beyond individual control, such as genetic predispositions and job requirements, cannot be changed, the study highlights the importance of lifestyle adjustments, including sleep quality and healthy behaviors, in preventing cognitive decline. Further research aims to investigate whether evening people are at a higher risk of developing dementia.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-night-owls-higher-cognitive-decline.html