Don’t sleep on good sleep.

Recent research suggests skipping shuteye can cause issues that are shockingly similar to those found in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

A team of researchers from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria analyzed sleep-centric medical studies published over the last quarter century to better understand how a lack of sleep affects the brain.

The team specifically compiled research that focused on key themes, including “sleep deprivation,” “memory consolidation” and the “hippocampus.”

The hippocampus is of particular interest to researchers because it is the brain area responsible for converting short-term memories into long-term ones.

In its analysis, the team discovered that even relatively brief periods of insomnia or sleep deprivation can adversely affect cognitive function.

Sleeplessness was associated with toxic accumulation, compromised neural connections and regeneration and inflammation.

These very same complications are mirrored in the experience of Alzheimer’s patients.

The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s erodes memory, personality, thinking and reasoning skills, eventually making it difficult for patients to perform even the simplest tasks.

More than 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, a number that is expected to nearly double by 2060.

For the study, researchers adhered to the standard recommendation that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Children whose brains are still developing need even more rest.

While all-nighters are commonplace for those in demanding school or work situations, researchers say skipping sleep sabotages the ability to retain information or process thoughts clearly the next day.

Moreover, the review found that after a sleepless night, people are more forgetful, struggle with decision making and mood, recall more false memories and have a more difficult time addressing emotional issues.

The study suggests that without proper sleep, hippocampus function deteriorates, causing harmful waste to accumulate.

Researchers maintain that even one night of rough or absent sleep could trigger the dangerous buildup of beta-amyloid and tau.

These toxic proteins have long been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s and disrupted cognitive function.

“Sleep deprivation profoundly disrupts memory, from encoding through consolidation to retrieval, by altering neurobiological mechanisms and impairing cognitive processes,” the study authors wrote in the journal IBRO Neuroscience Reports.

“These effects are especially concerning during adolescence, a period of heightened neural plasticity, when chronic sleep loss driven by academic pressure, social demand and prolonged screen use can undermine learning, emotional regulation and long-term cognitive outcomes,” they continued.

This is particularly disturbing, as experts say we are in the midst of a teen sleep crisis, with research suggesting that teens are getting less than four hours of sleep each night, roughly half of the eight to 10 hours per night recommended for their age group.

In a bit of good news about bad sleep, researchers found that daytime naps of 10 to 30 minutes can reverse many of these adverse effects in people of all ages, restoring memory, mood and attention span.

In keeping with the results of this latest study, previous research suggests that teens who routinely nap for 30 to 60 minutes per day have improved attention, nonverbal reasoning and spatial memory.

Thus, the solution to sleep deprivation may rest in designated, school-sanctioned nap time.

While researchers suggest that naps can function as a key type of neural recovery, they maintain that every effort should be made to get the recommended hours of nightly sleep for your age range.

To that dreamy end, here are some science-backed tips from experts to help you sleep deeply.

Sleep tips

1. Stick to a sleep schedule: Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your body’s internal clock.
2. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine: Ditch the bright lights and screens at least an hour before sleep. Instead, try reading a book, taking a warm bath or listening to calming music. 
3. Keep your bedroom as cool, dark and silent as possible.
4. Focus on your breath: Deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress, activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body, and stimulate the production of melatonin, an essential sleep hormone. 
5. Try some sleep hacks: If you’re still tossing and turning, you could try techniques like the “alpha bridge method,” the “house tour sleep hack” or “cognitive shuffling.” These quirky tricks have shown promise for many people.