Everyone enjoys a good night’s rest – however, studies show that it may be necessary to combat disease. Research suggests that restful sleep is required for storing and saving memories and that lack of sleep may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as well as other chronic diseases. A recent study found evidence that sleep deficit is connected to the buildup of the beta-amyloid protein, a toxic protein linked to Alzheimer’s that attacks the brain’s long-term memory. Results show that the more beta-amyloid a person contains in certain parts of the brain, the worse their memory. Likewise, the less deep sleep a person gets, the less effective they are at clearing out beta-amyloid protein build-up. This is a significant finding, since we are able to treat poor sleep and can take steps to improve sleep habits. Experts suggest going to sleep around the same time every night because even a slight shift in the length of sleep time will be less restorative. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid watching television or using the computer before going to bed as this can cause stimulating effects and detract from a restful sleep.