Adding to the growing body of evidence on sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, new research published in the ‘American Journal of Preventive Medicine’ finds significant links between three measures of sleep disturbance and the risk for developing dementia over a 10-year period. While the mechanism for decreased dementia risk among those with sleep-maintenance insomnia is still unknown, the investigators theorise that greater engagement in activities that preserve or increase cognitive reserve may thereby decrease dementia risk. The findings highlight the importance of considering sleep disturbance history when assessing the dementia risk profile for older adults.