People who struggle to fall asleep often experience future cognitive issues

If you struggle to fall asleep, you could be setting yourself up for trouble years from now. According to a new study published in the journal Sleep, researchers at the University of Michigan assessed a variety of sleep issues among almost 2,500 adults and looked for brain issues 14 years later. They found that trouble falling asleep was the only predictor of cognitive impairment down the road. Specifically, those people had impaired episodic memory, language, and executive function, or the ability to solve problems and make decisions. If you often struggle to fall asleep, try these remedies:

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Get regular exercise.
• Work to manage your stress levels.
• And see your doctor if you still have sleep issues.