Sleep Deprivation and Alzheimer's
A recent study conducted by Stanford University, Washington School of Medicine and Raboud University
Medical Centre in the Netherlands concluded that sleep deprivation may
increase proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Previous
studies showed that sleep deprivation resulted in increased levels of
beta-amyloid, which is a protein strongly associated with AD.
What type of sleep was not known until
this study. It was found that changes in slow wave activity resulted in a
10% increase in beta-amyloid levels (as measured by cerebrospinal fluid) after a bad night's sleep. Tau, the other
brain protein associated with AD, did not increase until after several nights
of interrupted sleep. (see previous post of Tau vs. Amyloid April 2017).
It was noted that poor sleep for short periods of time would not impact AD, but chronic sleeplessness could.
Yo-El Ju, the primary author, noted that although good night's sleep is something that we should all strive for, the increased proteins associated with sleep deprivation do not necessarily mean that good sleeping habits will decrease the risk the risk of developing AD.
Unfortunately, like so many studies regarding AD, the jury is still out as to cause, treatment or prevention.
