• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Meet us
    • Open days
    • Virtual tours
    • Upcoming events
    • Applicant days
    • Meet us in your country
    • Chat to our students
    • Ask us a question
    • Order a prospectus
    • Our campuses
    • Our four campuses
    • Accommodation options
    • Our halls
    • Helping you find a home
    • What you can study
    • Find a course
    • Full A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Our academic departments
    • How to study with us
    • Undergraduate application process
    • Postgraduate application process
    • International student application process
    • Apprenticeships
    • Applying through Clearing
    • Transfer from another university
    • Fees and financial support
    • Undergraduate finance
    • Postgraduate finance
    • Our funding and support options
    • Supporting you
    • Your wellbeing
    • Student support and guidance tutors
    • Study skills support
    • Careers and employability
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Aerial view of the Moulsecoomb campus
About us
  • Your university
  • Governance and structure
  • Working with us
  • Statistics and legal
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • News and events
    • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Coronavirus
    • Livestream
    • Open lectures
    • Term dates
  • News
    • News
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013

Good sleep provides better days for people with dementia

Research led by University of Brighton's Dr Sara Balouch has found a significant link between sleep patterns and symptoms for people living with dementia.

17 May 2022

In research that chimes with this week's Dementia Action Week (16-22 May), Dr Balouch found that not only does how well people with dementia sleep affect their symptoms the following day, but that sleep continuity was of particular significance – referring to the extent to which they can stay asleep after initially dozing off.

Dr Sara Balouch began the study while she was Dementia Research Fellow in the Centre for Dementia Studies at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), working in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Brighton, University of Surrey and University of Sussex.

The research was supported by the Centre for Dementia Studies at BSMS, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the UK-Dementia Research Institute. Findings were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.

Now a Senior Lecturer in the University of Brighton's School of Humanities and Social Science, Dr Balouch said: “Our research shows that night-to-night variations in sleep predict day-to-day variations in symptoms of dementia, more so than in people without cognitive impairment. We found that increased sleep continuity was related to feeling more alert, fewer everyday memory errors and fewer carer reported memory and behavioural problems.

Dr Sara Balouch

Dr Sara Balouch

Illustration of people holding placards about dementia care

Dementia action week 2022

When we spend too much time in bed, however, sleep continuity actually decreases. One interpretation of these results is that there is an optimal time in bed such that sleep is sufficiently long and continuous.”

The University of Brighton is currently offering an MSc in Dementia Studies taught at its Falmer campus, with the degree validated jointly by University of Sussex as part of the BSMS partnership.

The ongoing Time For Dementia partnership, meanwhile, has been commended by professional and regulatory bodies as an example of excellent innovative health practice. The project connects pre-registration nursing and physiotherapy students with local families where someone is living with dementia, allowing students to gain experience in communication and understanding of the condition before they encounter someone with dementia in an emergency or clinical setting.

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19
  • The Student Contract

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents