Over the past ten years, several studies have shown that sleeping poorly is one of the risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Inserm in particular has worked on the subject, and shown that people who sleep little (generally less than 6 hours per night) at the age of 50 or 60 have a higher long-term risk of developing dementia.
Decrease protein accumulation in the brain
Researchers therefore know that sleep is an important parameter to take into account in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
This is how a study, carried out on a small group of 38 people, suggests that a new class of sleeping pills (not yet marketed in France) could help prevent the disease by causing a drop in the level of Tau proteins in the brain, key element in Alzheimer’s disease.
Suvorexant: what is this new sleeping pill?
Suvorexant is a new hypnotic called an “orexin receptor antagonist”, that is to say it does not affect the induction of sleep, but it prevents the action of neurotransmitters which play a role in role in maintaining wakefulness.
In their study, researchers from Saint-Louis University (United States) found that the use of this new class of sleeping pills by patients suffering from insomnia helped reduce the accumulation of toxic clumps of proteins. in the fluid that cleanses the brain every night.
The demonstration is interesting: it shows that it is possible to reduce the levels of tau and beta-amyloid in the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord with two good nights of sleep. However, these results must be considered with caution. Firstly because this drug has not yet received marketing authorization in France and secondly because we still do not know what the long-term effects of taking this type of sleeping pills may be.
The scientists also point out that this is a limited trial which requires additional research.
Source : Suvorexant Acutely Decreases Tau Phosphorylation and Aβ in the Human CNSAnnals of neurology, March 2023
