New Study Links Sleep Disorders and Alzheimer's Disease

A new study shows a relationship between sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Yo-El Ju an assistant professor of neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis explained that their study revealed that if a person awakens more than 5 times a night, he or she can develop preclinical Alzheimer’s. The term Preclinical Alzheimer describes those who still have normal mental skills except that the brain is undergoing changes which are comparable with this disorder. Dr. Ju will report the findings during the American Academy of Neurology’s yearly meeting in April.  She further stressed that the result is not conclusive since it is not a cause and effect process but is shows a connection between the two disorders.

Research Method

The research utilized 100 women and men with ages from 45-80.  The test subjects did not suffer from dementia and one half had family lineage of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Dr. Ju is again processing 100 more subjects and reporting this on the yearly meeting.

The subjects were equipped with a device that monitors sleep as well as required to have sleep diaries.  The team evaluated the subjects’ spinal fluid and took brain scans.  What they were looking for as “amyloid plaques”. These plaques are present in Alzheimer’s disease sufferers. Formation of the plaques takes 10 to 15 years before the Alzheimer’s disease indicators appear.

The study indicated that although the test subjects were in bed for 8 hours, most of them only slept 6.5 hours a night. Upon undergoing the diagnostic tests, it was found out that 25% had pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease as indicated by the amyloid plaques. Those who were awaken frequently because of one of the sleep disorders were more prone to Alzheimer’s. Some of the test subjects spent 85% of time in bed awake and the others woke at least 5 times a night.

Importance of Sleep

Sleep is very important for body and mind functions and this should be given priority by everyone.  The mind rests while asleep and this should be given priority more so with people who have Alzheimer’s in their family lineage.

Maria Carillo,Ph.D., senior director of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association, stressed that there are early brain modifications with Alzheimer’s disease but the connection between the two should be further studied and established.  Sleep disorders which prevents people from having enough sleep can cause these brain changes.

There are other indicators of Alzheimer’s development like inflammation. One thing that the researchers have revealed is that a good night’s sleep is important. Sleep disorders may have some negative results by causing other diseases to development. It is not conclusive that is causes Alzheimer’s disease but it does point to it being a precursor for the disorder.  The emphasis on getting at least 8 hours sleep should not be discounted and this holds true to everyone – young and old alike.  When we sleep, our brain functions slow down thereby replenishing what is lost during waking hours.