Doctors warn that too much melatonin could be linked to dementia

ORLANDO, Fla. — Some doctors are warning that using too much melatonin to help you sleep could cause other health-related issues.

A recent report in the medical journal JAMA said that melatonin use more than doubled in 2018 from a decade earlier.

The National Institutes for Health said using melatonin occasionally is fine but high levels have been linked to dementia, early mortality and other health issues.

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Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness and it plays a role in sleep.

Melatonin production decreases with age.

According to the Mayo Clinic, melatonin can help with insomnia, jet lag, shift work disorder and some sleep disorders in children.

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Click here for more information on melatonin from the Mayo Clinic.

Research suggests that melatonin might reduce evening confusion and restlessness in people with Alzheimer’s disease, but it doesn’t seem to improve cognition.

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Some side effects of taking melatonin can be headaches, dizziness and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should treat melatonin as you would any sleeping pill and use it under your doctor’s supervision.

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Melatonin can be purchased over the counter and is not regulated by the FDA.

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