People with dementias like Alzheimer’s disease frequently experience changes in their sleep patterns. They can have frequent night-time awakenings and have trouble falling back asleep. These sleep issues are thought to be a result of the disease’s impact on the brain’s sleep-wake cycle.
According to studies, early sleep habits may increase the risk of dementia in the future. A higher risk of dementia development has been related to both inadequate sleep and sleeping more than usual. It has been challenging to distinguish between these sleep modifications reflecting early signs of the disease and their causal role in it.
Beta-amyloid and tau, two proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, were shown to be lower in persons who took the insomnia drug Suvorexant in March 2023.
On the other hand, another study conducted earlier this year indicated that frequent use of sleep aids raised the risk of dementia in some ethnic groups.
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Can Sleeping pills help with Alzheimer’s disease?
He stated, “Readers should handle any sleeping medicines with caution, especially older adult readers.” Medication should only be utilized when all other options have been exhausted. Before using over-the-counter sleep aids, it’s crucial to look into common medical causes of insomnia, such as obstructive sleep Apnea. Additionally, scientists have been researching the benefits of deep sleep for memory retention.
“Deep sleep is the stage of sleep where our brain activity slows and we don’t wake up as easily,” Dr. Deland said. “This is non-dreaming sleep, which typically takes place later in the evening just before REM sleep, or sleep with dreams. Growth hormone is released as we sleep deeply, and our bodies repair and clean up.
According to a study published in May 2023, older adults who have elevated levels of beta-amyloid in their brains may benefit from deep sleep to prevent memory loss. Additionally, a study published earlier this month discovered that deep brain stimulation when given to a subject while they are in a deep slumber enhances their brain’s capacity to form memories.
In elderly persons who get good sleep every night, we observe less memory loss, according to Dr. Sullivan. We also know that deep sleep, which gets rid of some of the harmful proteins that accumulate to create Alzheimer’s disease, is when the restorative clearing-out effects of sleep work best.
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