An Optimal Amount of Sleep May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer’s disease currently affects over 6 million people in the United States. The disease is associated with the progressive degeneration of connections between neurons in the brain, which weakens cognition, often leading to cognitive decline. Previous research has suggested that there are links between Alzheimer’s and a lack of good quality sleep as well as other sleep disturbances. Another study determined that both a lack of sleep or an excess amount of sleep can contribute to cognitive decline.
Recently, neurologists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis decided to study how biomarkers in a person’s DNA combined with poor quality and too much or not enough sleep can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The researchers collected data from a group of 100 patients living at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC), which is affiliated with the university’s neurology department. The patients all underwent numerous neurological exams to assess cognitive function before their participation in the study. Cerebrospinal fluid from the participants was also examined for two Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, total tau and beta-amyloid 42.
The researchers used three different methods of data collection to measure the participants’ sleep patterns for four to six nights. They used sleep logs to measure how long the participants were asleep, an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine to measure electrical activity in the brain, and an actigraphy watch to assess sleep-wake cycles. The researchers also focused on the time participants spent in the different stages of sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep, to measure the efficiency of each stage.
Recently, neurologists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis decided to study how biomarkers in a person’s DNA combined with poor quality and too much or not enough sleep can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The researchers collected data from a group of 100 patients living at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (Knight ADRC), which is affiliated with the university’s neurology department. The patients all underwent numerous neurological exams to assess cognitive function before their participation in the study. Cerebrospinal fluid from the participants was also examined for two Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, total tau and beta-amyloid 42.
The researchers used three different methods of data collection to measure the participants’ sleep patterns for four to six nights. They used sleep logs to measure how long the participants were asleep, an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine to measure electrical activity in the brain, and an actigraphy watch to assess sleep-wake cycles. The researchers also focused on the time participants spent in the different stages of sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep, to measure the efficiency of each stage.
Image Source: Acharaporn Kamornboonyarush
Even after adjusting for confounders that may affect results, such as age, years of education, and sex, the researchers found that short (less than or equal to six hours) and long (greater than or equal to nine hours) periods of time spent asleep both contribute to cognitive decline. This study supports the findings of previous studies suggesting that there is an optimal range of time spent sleeping to prevent cognitive decline. The data from this study also suggests that the length of time spent in specific stages of sleep does not impact cognitive decline.
These findings may help other researchers because knowledge about how sleep quality and duration affect cognitive decline could contribute to the development of therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate how getting an optimal amount of sleep impacts cognitive decline.
Overall, this research study encourages the general public to prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to sleep, and to practice healthy sleep habits. While sleep has not always been linked with Alzheimer’s disease, recent research has established a clear connection. As such, developing good sleeping habits early on is a worthwhile undertaking to help prevent cognitive decline.
These findings may help other researchers because knowledge about how sleep quality and duration affect cognitive decline could contribute to the development of therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate how getting an optimal amount of sleep impacts cognitive decline.
Overall, this research study encourages the general public to prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to sleep, and to practice healthy sleep habits. While sleep has not always been linked with Alzheimer’s disease, recent research has established a clear connection. As such, developing good sleeping habits early on is a worthwhile undertaking to help prevent cognitive decline.
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