(CNN) — Addressing insomnia isn’t just a fight against tomorrow’s midafternoon fatigue –– it could help protect against brain aging in the future, new research suggests.

Sleep difficulties are common, with 12% of Americans saying they have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine .

Unlike genetic and other factors that go into cognitive health that are not under your control, insomnia may be one condition you can do something about, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology .

“The main takeaway for this study is that chronic insomnia may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline,” said lead study author Dr. Diego Carvalho, assistant professor of neurology and sleep specialist at the Mayo Clinic Center

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