New research reveals that increased daytime sleepiness in elderly women over 80 is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia. A five-year study monitored 733 women in their 80s, finding that those with increasing daytime sleepiness were more than twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those with stable sleep patterns. The study highlights the need for further research to understand how changes in sleep patterns over time can be linked to dementia risk. While the study does not prove causation, it suggests that sleep problems may serve as an early marker or risk factor for dementia in older women.