THE sleep disorders may be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to results of a study published in the medial journal Neurology.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin in Madison (USA) conducted a study with 101 people aged 63 years.
Although it was not possible to predict whether participants were at high risk of developing the Alzheimer’s diseasethe researchers selected volunteers for the study who had an increased likelihood because of a family history or because they carried a gene linked to the disease.
The researchers were on the lookout for signs of beta-amyloid, a buildup of toxic brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers took a sample of spinal fluid to test it for the pathology biomarker, the Tau protein.
“Previous evidence has shown that sleep can influence the development or progression of Alzheimer’s disease in a variety of ways,” explained lead author Dr. Barbara Bendlin from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “For example, the disturbed sleep or lack of sleep can lead to an accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, a sign of the development of the disease”.
Confirmed results of a link between sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease
Study results showed that individuals who reported poor sleep quality or suffered from daytime sleepiness had more biological markers for the more common form of dementia.
“This study adds to previous evidence that poor quality sleep may be associated with signs of Alzheimer’s disease. While good quality sleep can help keep the brain healthy, the exact relationship between sleep and Alzheimer’s risk is still unclear.
“While there is still a lot of research to be done on the relationship between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease, getting a good night’s sleep is important for overall health. If you’re worried about your sleep or your memorytalk to your general practitioner”, concludes the researcher.
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