Vitamin D deficiency to cognitive decline: Surprising reasons why you are feeling sleepy during the day

Once or more in life, most of us have been called a ‘sleepyhead’ for yawning and falling asleep at the wrong time and wrong place. Often it has been the aftermath of a late-night party or a night-out with friends, an all-nighter group study or a brainstorming session after a long meeting at work. Sleeping through the day after a hectic schedule is a harmless sin to indulge in. However, daytime sleeping is not a good sign if it becomes a pattern.
Sometimes, today’s fast-paced life barely gives you time to stop and rest. But sleep is as important for good health as diet and exercise. Good sleep improves your brain performance, mood, and health. The way you feel while you are awake depends in part on what happens while you are sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health.
In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development. Getting inadequate sleep over time can raise your risk for chronic (long-term) health problems. It can also affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others. Not getting enough quality sleep regularly raises the risk of many diseases and disorders. These range from heart disease and stroke to obesity and dementia.

Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Sleep helps your brain form and maintain pathways for learning and memory. It also helps your neurons communicate with each other. In fact, sleep helps you maintain a healthy weight, improves your heart health and metabolism, and reduces your risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Not just that, sleep helps you reduce stress and improve your mood. It also affects how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others.

However, sleeping during the day can be an alarming sign that might indicate cognitive decile.
There are many reasons why you might feel sleepy during the day, such as:
Sleep deprivation: Not getting enough sleep can cause excessive daytime sleepiness. This can be due to shift work, family demands, or other factors.
Sleep disorders: Sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy can cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
Medications: Some medications, such as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antihistamines, and certain painkillers, can cause drowsiness.
Diet: Not eating a balanced diet or skipping meals can contribute to feeling tired.
Circadian cycle: Our circadian cycle naturally dictates a period of sleepiness in the afternoon.
Vitamin D deficiency: Vitamin D deficiency can cause excessive daytime sleepiness in older adults.
Other medical conditions: Diabetes, chronic pain, underactive thyroid, and changes in blood sodium levels can all cause drowsiness.

Hypersomnia: Hypersomnia is the condition where one is faced with the inability to stay awake and alert during the day despite having more than an adequate amount of nighttime sleep. Hypersomnia affects your ability to function at work and socially, affects your quality of life and increases your chance of accidents.
Causes of hypersomnia: The cause of most cases of hypersomnia remains unknown. Researchers have looked at the potential roles of neurotransmitters in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid including hypocretin/orexin, dopamine, histamine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). A genetic link may be possible since a family history is present in up to 39% of people with idiopathic hypersomnia. Researchers are also exploring the role of certain genes in circadian rhythm that may be different in people with idiopathic hypersomnia.
Diagnosis of hypersomnia: This overnight sleep study test, known as Polysomnography, measures your brain waves, breathing pattern, heart rhythms and muscle movements during stages of sleep. The test is performed in a hospital, sleep study centre or other designated site and under the direct supervision of a trained sleep specialist. This test helps diagnose disorders believed to cause sleepiness. Multiple sleep latency test measures a person’s tendency to fall asleep during five, 20-minute nap trials scheduled two hours apart. The test records brain activity, including the number of naps containing REM sleep.

Treatment of hypersomnia: Whether it’s through medication or lifestyle changes, hypersomnia is treatable. For medication, you should consult your physician and seek help. More than the medications, it is the lifestyle change that helps one fight the condition in a much better way. Doctors advise patients of hypersomnia to maintain good sleep habits. This includes things like establishing a regular sleeping schedule, having an environment that allows for sleep (cool, dark room; comfortable pillows and bed) and limiting caffeine and exercise before bedtime.
Dementia risk: Older adults who experience daytime sleepiness or feel less motivated due to sleep problems may face a higher likelihood of developing a syndrome linked to dementia. This syndrome, called

motoric cognitive risk syndrome

(MCR), is characterised by a slower walking speed and reported memory issues, although it does not yet involve a mobility disability or dementia. MCR often appears before dementia symptoms emerge. People with excessive daytime sleepiness and low enthusiasm were more likely to develop MCR compared to those without these sleep-related concerns. While the study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, it highlights an association between these sleep issues and an increased risk of developing MCR.