• More sleep now means better memory later, says Baylor research

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    It might be time for you to turn out the lights and hit the sack.

    Dr. Michael K. Scullin, a Baylor professor and director of the university’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory, has linked lack of sleep to a poorly-functioning memory, and says a good night’s sleep will help with memory not only tomorrow, but also 40, 50 and 60 years from now.

    Scullin examined 50 years of sleep research and recommends getting some shut-eye now to delay age-related changes in memory and thinking.

    It’s well known that a deep sleep helps memory by taking pieces of a day’s experiences, replaying them and strengthening them for better recollection. But, as it turns out, that tends to only be the case in young adults; as people grow older, they wake up more at night, sleep lighter, and dream less, which affects their overall brain functioning.

    Scullin’s research has been featured in dozens of news outlets, from Smithsonian.com to SELF magazine to the Huffington Post.

    The moral of the story? Don’t think of sleep as “lost time,” but invest in it just like you would a savings account. Oh, and afternoon naps are encouraged, too.

    Sic ’em, Dr. Scullin!