A comprehensive review has found that insomnia is associated with a 26 percent higher risk of stroke and a 28 percent increase in the likelihood of hospital admission. The research highlighted correlations between insomnia, depression, suicidal behavior, and a potential link to dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease.
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Lead author Luca Vignatelli, from the IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna in Italy, emphasized the need to recognize insomnia as a significant warning sign of brain and mental health issues. He stated, "These findings show that someone with insomnia has an increased risk for dementia or stroke. Insomnia should be recognized and addressed as part of a wider approach to health to reduce the risk of developing such disorders."
The review, which was supported by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), analyzed data from various studies, including 1.3 million participants overall. Researchers conducted systematic searches in MEDLINE and EMBASE up to August 2025, integrating existing systematic reviews with several new reviews of primary studies. Although the review identified nine eligible studies on stroke, the association between insomnia and stroke varied significantly between them.
For hospitalizations, five studies were examined, leading to the conclusion that individuals with insomnia had a 28 percent higher chance of being hospitalized for any reason. While most reviews suggested a relationship between insomnia and dementia of any cause, the evidence was less uniform, with stronger links found specifically for Alzheimer's disease and inconsistent findings for vascular dementia.
The researchers were careful to note that the review established associations rather than direct causation of stroke, dementia, or other health conditions by insomnia. They acknowledged variations in how insomnia was defined across studies and limited information regarding the use of sleep medications.
The analysis explored seven health outcome areas: dementia, stroke, depression, suicidal behavior, mortality, occupational injuries, and hospitalizations. The authors encouraged future studies to adopt consistent diagnostic criteria, include under-researched populations, and better differentiate between the effects of insomnia and related medications. Professor Stefan Seidel, a study author, remarked, "Sleep should be part of the conversation about brain health at every age. We need to raise awareness of insomnia and its treatment and ensure sleep is included in health promotion programs in our communities, schools, and workplaces."