Washington University in St. Louis researchers are delving deeper into the connection between poor sleep and Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study published in 2023 revealed intriguing findings that suggest using sleeping pills may help reduce the build-up of harmful proteins in the brain.
The study involved 38 middle-aged participants without cognitive impairment or sleep issues who were given suvorexant, a common insomnia treatment, for two nights at a sleep clinic. The results showed a slight decrease in the levels of two proteins, amyloid-beta and tau, which are known to accumulate in Alzheimer’s disease.
While the study was brief and limited to a small group of healthy adults, it sheds light on the importance of quality sleep in relation to the molecular markers of Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep disturbances have been identified as an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, preceding memory loss and cognitive decline. Researchers believe that promoting better sleep could potentially help in preventing the onset of the disease.
However, the researchers caution against interpreting the study as a reason to rely on sleeping pills for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Dependency on such medication can be a concern, and prolonged use may lead to shallower sleep phases. Previous research by the same team has shown a link between poor sleep quality and elevated levels of tau tangles and amyloid-beta protein.
The study sought to investigate if improving sleep quality with the aid of sleeping pills could lead to lower levels of tau and amyloid-beta in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The findings indicated that suvorexant did reduce amyloid-beta concentrations by 10 to 20 percent, with higher doses also briefly lowering levels of hyperphosphorylated tau.
Despite these promising results, the researchers emphasize the need for further studies, particularly in older adults, to determine the long-term effects of sleeping pills on protein levels. The hypothesis that abnormal protein clumps drive Alzheimer’s pathology has been scrutinized in recent years, prompting researchers to reconsider the mechanisms underlying the disease.
While the link between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer’s disease continues to be explored, experts suggest that improving sleep hygiene and addressing sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, can contribute to better brain health. The ultimate goal is to develop interventions that leverage the connection between sleep and Alzheimer’s to potentially prevent cognitive decline. However, researchers acknowledge that more research is needed before reaching that point.