Lifestyle
Sleep Patterns Linked to Increased Alzheimer’s Risk, Experts Reveal
Recent research indicates that certain sleep patterns, particularly those involving rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This study, conducted in China and published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, examined the sleep cycles of 128 adults with varying cognitive abilities.
The findings revealed that individuals who experienced prolonged REM latency—a delay in reaching the first REM period after falling asleep—were at a heightened risk for Alzheimer’s. The researchers suggested that this delay could serve as a “novel marker of risk factor” for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation, emphasized the importance of this study, noting that it contributes to the “growing evidence” linking specific sleep characteristics, like extended REM latency, to Alzheimer’s biomarkers.
“REM sleep is the stage of sleep when dreams mostly occur, and is critically important for memory consolidation and emotional processing,” Troxel explained.
The research aligns with previous studies from Troxel’s lab, which have shown that poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration are associated with diminished cognitive function. She highlighted that “sleep disruptions may contribute to the buildup of amyloid and tau proteins, key features of Alzheimer’s pathology.”
Dr. Giulio Taglialatela, from the University of Texas Medical Branch, also weighed in on the study. He noted that it’s “long understood” that quality sleep is linked to a reduced risk of dementia.
“Our brains use sleep to clear out toxic proteins, like those associated with Alzheimer’s,” he said, adding that the cleaning mechanism is less effective with delayed REM sleep.
Despite the inability to control REM latency, Taglialatela sees this research as a “promising avenue” for predicting dementia risk.
“Early intervention in Alzheimer’s is essential for delaying its progression, and measuring REM sleep could be a marker to indicate who may be a candidate for treatment even before they start to show impaired cognitive function,” he stated.
The study faced limitations, including its cross-sectional nature, which means the direction of the association cannot be determined. The small sample size and focus on one type of tau protein also warrant caution in interpreting results.
Additionally, monitoring sleep in clinical settings might introduce “environmental disturbances,” affecting measurement accuracy. The researchers suggested that future studies could benefit from real-world home settings.
Dr. Troxel advised against letting this information become “another source of worry that keeps you awake at night.” She cautioned against over-reliance on consumer sleep trackers, which might not accurately measure sleep architecture.
“Obsessing on such data can increase anxiety, which is a powerful sleep disruptor,” she warned.
Instead, Troxel recommended focusing on good sleep practices, such as aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep and maintaining consistent sleep schedules.
“Minimize common disruptors such as excessive caffeine and alcohol, which are known to fragment REM sleep, [as well as] screen use before bedtime,” she suggested.
Taglialatela also emphasized the importance of creating an “ideal sleep environment” and maintaining “good bedtime habits” to potentially reduce Alzheimer’s risk.
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