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For many, retirement is very difficult to deal with. Life suddenly comes to a halt with nowhere to rush to everyday, and lying on the cozy bed for a major part of the day, becomes a routine. However, scientists say that sleeping for long hours in old age, might be harmful for the brain. Even, not getting proper sleep is also harmful.

Now, the scientists say that restricting oneself to seven hours night sleep might be helpful in preventing the brain from ageing by extra two years. Care should be taken to ensure right amount of rest for the brain.

According to a research conducted by American scientists, those who have two hours extra sleep, or those who slept for two hours less, had difficulty concentrating when compared to those who slept for seven hours.

Those who suffer brain deterioration with age may be more prone to dementia.

Over sleeping has already been linked to weight gain and increased risk of heart problems and diabetes. This is the first time scientists have linked it to concentration problems.

For the study, researchers studied 15,000 women in their seventies for over five years.

The research results found that when put through regular tests to check their memory, concentration and attention span, participants who usually slept for seven hours performed far better than those who got less than five hours, or more than nine hours of sleep.

 "Our findings support the notion that extreme sleep durations and changes in sleep duration over time may contribute to cognitive decline and early Alzheimer's changes in older adults. The public health implications of these findings could be substantial, as they might lead to the eventual identification of sleep-based strategies for reducing risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's," Lead researcher Elizabeth Devore of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston was quoted as saying by Mail Online.

 "A good night's sleep is one of life's pleasures but, once again, this robust research suggests that the quality and duration of sleep are also linked to our cognitive health. While this link is now quite well-established, more research is needed to determine whether factors like sleep duration are a cause or effect of cognitive decline. We're not saying you shouldn't enjoy the occasional lie-in, but good-quality sleep, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly can all make a difference in reducing your risk," A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Society added.

The research report was presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Vancouver, Canada.