HQ Team
December 28, 2024: Research has shown a potential connection between the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who take sleeping pills. A study conducted by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that the insomnia medication suvorexant may help lower levels of amyloid-beta and tau proteins, which are implicated in Alzheimer’s pathology.
In a controlled environment, 38 middle-aged healthy participants took suvorexant for two nights. Results showed a 10-20% reduction in amyloid-beta levels and a temporary decrease in hyperphosphorylated tau levels after taking the medication.
The research showed that the group that took higher doses of the medicine for the two nights showed a greater drop than the group that was given a lower dosage.
The study sample and duration were short but its implications indicate that further research is necessary to understand long-term effects
Sleep quality matters
Previous studies suggest that poor sleep can lead to increased amyloid-beta production, which may contribute to Alzheimer’s onset. Disrupted sleep patterns have been linked with elevated tau levels, suggesting a complex relationship between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer’s disease progression.
This research was a result of a previous study which found that a medication which blocks orexin, the brain’s ‘awake’ chemical, also impacted the critical Alzheimer’s proteins tau and amyloid.
“Work previously done in mice showed that a dual orexin receptor antagonist ((almorexant) decreased both soluble amyloid-beta levels and amyloid pathology,” explained Dr. Brendan Lucey, associate professor of neurology and sleep medicine section head at Washington University School of Medicine, and first author of the study.
There is growing evidence supporting a bidirectional relationship between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer’s disease, where poor sleep may exacerbate disease progression while Alzheimer’s-related changes may also disrupt sleep.
Neurologist Brendan Lucey emphasized that while sleeping pills like suvorexant may offer some benefits, it is premature to recommend them as a preventative treatment for Alzheimer’s. Improving overall sleep hygiene and addressing conditions like sleep apnea are critical steps for maintaining brain health.
The potential side effects of a higher dosage are depression and impaired cognitive function. Also, it can disturb our sleep architecture and R.E.M. pattern, which in turn can cause dementia.
Approximately 6.7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, with projections indicating this number could rise significantly in the coming decades. The world figures for the disease is much higher at 24 million, in effect, one in 10 people suffer from the disease.
Lack of effective treatments
Despite extensive research, there are no definitive treatments that slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease effectively. This has led scientists to explore existing medications for new applications in dementia prevention
The link between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease is an emerging field of study, with recent findings suggesting that improving sleep could have beneficial effects on brain health. However, researchers caution against relying solely on sleeping pills as a preventive measure. Continued investigation into the relationship between sleep quality and Alzheimer’s pathology is essential for developing effective strategies to combat this devastating disease.
The study was published in Annals of Neurology.
