Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Review Links Insomnia to Stroke, Hospitalisation, and Brain Disorders
Insomnia is a condition in which people have trouble sleeping.
A large review studied information from nearly 1.3 million people.
It found that people with insomnia had a higher chance of having a stroke.
Insomnia was also connected with depression, suicidal behaviour, hospitalisation, and some types of dementia.
These results do not prove that insomnia directly causes these problems.
It is also possible that changes in the brain cause both poor sleep and other health problems.
Scientists say sleep should be treated as an important part of brain and mental health.
People and health services should pay attention to insomnia and its treatment.
An umbrella review involving nearly 1.3 million participants found insomnia was associated with a 26% higher risk of stroke.
The review also linked insomnia with hospitalisation, depression, suicidal behaviour, and some forms of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s.
Researchers combined evidence from existing and newly conducted systematic reviews using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.
The review was led by researchers from Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and funded by the European Academy of Neurology.
Researchers cautioned that the findings show associations, not proof that insomnia directly causes brain damage or neurological disease.
- Who
- Researchers from Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, led by Luca Vignatelli, conducted the review.
- What
- An umbrella review examined links between insomnia and stroke, hospitalisation, mental-health conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases.
- When
- The review was published in Sleep Medicine Reviews; the publication date is not stated in the article.
- Where
- The research involved teams from Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and used the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.
- Why
- The researchers aimed to assess the broader health risks associated with insomnia and highlight sleep as part of brain-health care.
Insomnia as a Health Warning
Causation Remains Unclear
Meaning of the findings
Insomnia as a Health Warning
Researchers say insomnia should be recognised and addressed as a warning sign linked to brain and mental-health risks.
Causation Remains Unclear
The review identifies associations but does not establish that insomnia directly causes stroke, dementia, or brain damage.
Direction of the relationship
Insomnia as a Health Warning
Poor sleep may affect brain-health processes, including the removal of metabolic waste during deep sleep.
Causation Remains Unclear
An inflamed or deteriorating brain could instead contribute to sleep problems, meaning the relationship may work in the opposite direction or both ways.
- Study type
- Umbrella review combining evidence from existing and newly conducted systematic reviews
- Participants
- Nearly 1.3 million people
- Stroke finding
- Insomnia was associated with a 26% higher risk of stroke
- Other linked conditions
- Depression, suicidal behaviour, hospitalisation, and some forms of dementia
- Most noted dementia link
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Databases used
- MEDLINE and EMBASE
- Funding
- European Academy of Neurology