Losing Sleep Over Alzheimer’s Disease?

Losing Sleep Over Alzheimer’s Disease?

            While you probably know that not getting enough sleep can cause a number of health issues, did you know that not getting enough sleep could potentially increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease? A recent study done by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, funded by the National Institutes of Health, suggests that “losing just one night of sleep [can lead] to an immediate increase in beta-amyloid, a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s Disease” (NIAAA 2018).

            Twenty subjects, ages 22 to 72, underwent PET scans after a night of sleep deprivation (staying awake for 31 consecutive hours) and a night of ‘rested sleep’. Researchers were interested in a possible connection between beta-amyloid accumulation and sleep. It was found that “beta-amyloid increases about 5% after losing [just one] night of sleep in brain regions including the thalamus and hippocampus, regions especially vulnerable to damage in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease” (NIAAA). While future studies are needed in order to increase external validity, the findings have opened up another door that leads to a better understanding of the disease, and hopefully one day, a cure. Dr. Shokri-Kojori of the NIAAA says that this study “demonstrates the negative effects of sleep deprivation on beta-amyloid burden in the human brain.” While sleep deprivation seems to be a popular risk factor and symptom for many health problems, other symptoms such as trouble with visual processing and spatial cognition are common signs of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Research done by Roberto Fernandez, MD, MPH, PhD, found that changes in beta-amyloid and tau can cause Alzheimer’s; however, he says the cause of these changes is still uncertain. Because Alzheimer’s effects certain parts of the brain before others, a gradual decline in patients’ function is seen as the disease progressively spreads throughout the brain. Up to one third of Alzheimer’s patients experience visuospatial deficits as early symptom (Fernandez). Perhaps sleep deprivation is the missing piece to the puzzle? If an immediate increase in beta-amyloid protein is associated to sleep deprivation, maybe Alzheimer’s can eventually be prevented or the progressiveness slowed down through more extensive research.

Research Study: β-Amyloid accumulation in the human brain after one night of sleep deprivation

http://www.pnas.org/content/115/17/4483 

Found on the site:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180413155301.htm

Research done by Roberto Fernandez, MD, MPH, PhD:

https://loyolauniversitychicago-my.sharepoint.com/personal/rmorrison_luc_edu/Documents/NEUR 300/(03.27.18) - Roberto Fernandez-Romero/NBA2012.pdf