EH 1020
Sleep deprivation is the cause of cognitive impairments.
Columbia Southern University English
Composition II (EH 1020)
Abstract
Scientists and researchers continue to carry out further studies to establish whether sleep
deprivation is the cause of cognitive impairment or whether other diseases and factors cause
cognitive impairment. As a result, this study backs up the claim that sleep deprivation causes
cognitive impairments. Lack of sleep deprives the nervous system of the time to heal to function
amicably for the next day's activities. This leads to cognitive lapse, which is slow behavioural
performance. There is an occurrence of sharp-wave ripples, which is responsible for memory
consolidation, therefore, lack of sleep leads to failure of this process. Cognitive impairment is
associated with memory loss, language impairment, and lack of concentration, resulting from
genetic, mental, or emotional illness. However, the arguments in the paper also state that lack of
sleep is not the only primary source of cognitive impairment; diseases, age, and a person's
genetic makeup can all contribute to cognitive impairment. An observational study to determine
how sleep deprivation affects people and its relation to cognitive impairment is carried out
among students and their performance in school, nurses and their extensive working hours, and
finally, between the young and old age. Further studies are needed to establish the cause of
cognitive impairment and its relation to sleep deprivation to develop preventive measures.
Introduction
, Sleep is one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence; it is a state in which the
body, mind, and all the nervous functions of a human being become relatively inactive. During
sleep, the body undergoes repairs to become fit to face the numerous day-to-day activities of
man; getting sufficient sleep is key to achieving overall health and wellbeing. Sleep deprivation
is a state in which a person does not get enough sleep to support alertness and energy to support
his/ her activities. Sleep deprivation is a common phenomenon in the current world as people
have been increasingly working day and night, thus altering sleep patterns and time. Some
people suggest that cognitive impairments are caused by sleep deprivation. For the supporters of
this statement, sleep deprivation is the known cognitive impairment cause since sleep deprivation
is common among many individuals worldwide, most of whom experience cognitive impairment
conditions, and several kinds of research have been conducted to prove this statement. However,
those who do not support this statement state that cognitive impairments result from other
diseases and factors. These diseases vary among individuals, and some of them include multiple
sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Such disorders
may be connected directly to the disease or may occur as secondary effects. A case study was
conducted by Palmer et al. (2018) to find out the linkage of cognitive functioning and
disturbance during sleep amid mild cognitive impairment. The study results showed that poor
sleep among cognitively healthy participants was linked to worsened performances, executive
functioning, and episodic memory, which agreed with many other previous findings. Low sleep
efficiency can cause attention loss, leading to more executive tasks error like the Stroop test.
Individuals suggest that cognitive impairments should be linked to sleep deprivation as the cause
since they have proven evidence from researches. People who face poor sleeping patterns and
sleep deprivation have been observed to face cognitive impairments recurrently. Supporters of
sleep deprivation as the cause of cognitive impairments claim that evidence is readily available
Sleep deprivation is the cause of cognitive impairments.
Columbia Southern University English
Composition II (EH 1020)
Abstract
Scientists and researchers continue to carry out further studies to establish whether sleep
deprivation is the cause of cognitive impairment or whether other diseases and factors cause
cognitive impairment. As a result, this study backs up the claim that sleep deprivation causes
cognitive impairments. Lack of sleep deprives the nervous system of the time to heal to function
amicably for the next day's activities. This leads to cognitive lapse, which is slow behavioural
performance. There is an occurrence of sharp-wave ripples, which is responsible for memory
consolidation, therefore, lack of sleep leads to failure of this process. Cognitive impairment is
associated with memory loss, language impairment, and lack of concentration, resulting from
genetic, mental, or emotional illness. However, the arguments in the paper also state that lack of
sleep is not the only primary source of cognitive impairment; diseases, age, and a person's
genetic makeup can all contribute to cognitive impairment. An observational study to determine
how sleep deprivation affects people and its relation to cognitive impairment is carried out
among students and their performance in school, nurses and their extensive working hours, and
finally, between the young and old age. Further studies are needed to establish the cause of
cognitive impairment and its relation to sleep deprivation to develop preventive measures.
Introduction
, Sleep is one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence; it is a state in which the
body, mind, and all the nervous functions of a human being become relatively inactive. During
sleep, the body undergoes repairs to become fit to face the numerous day-to-day activities of
man; getting sufficient sleep is key to achieving overall health and wellbeing. Sleep deprivation
is a state in which a person does not get enough sleep to support alertness and energy to support
his/ her activities. Sleep deprivation is a common phenomenon in the current world as people
have been increasingly working day and night, thus altering sleep patterns and time. Some
people suggest that cognitive impairments are caused by sleep deprivation. For the supporters of
this statement, sleep deprivation is the known cognitive impairment cause since sleep deprivation
is common among many individuals worldwide, most of whom experience cognitive impairment
conditions, and several kinds of research have been conducted to prove this statement. However,
those who do not support this statement state that cognitive impairments result from other
diseases and factors. These diseases vary among individuals, and some of them include multiple
sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Such disorders
may be connected directly to the disease or may occur as secondary effects. A case study was
conducted by Palmer et al. (2018) to find out the linkage of cognitive functioning and
disturbance during sleep amid mild cognitive impairment. The study results showed that poor
sleep among cognitively healthy participants was linked to worsened performances, executive
functioning, and episodic memory, which agreed with many other previous findings. Low sleep
efficiency can cause attention loss, leading to more executive tasks error like the Stroop test.
Individuals suggest that cognitive impairments should be linked to sleep deprivation as the cause
since they have proven evidence from researches. People who face poor sleeping patterns and
sleep deprivation have been observed to face cognitive impairments recurrently. Supporters of
sleep deprivation as the cause of cognitive impairments claim that evidence is readily available
