Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found a potential link between poor sleep quality and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study suggests that individuals who spend less time in slow-wave sleep and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep may be more likely to experience brain shrinkage in the inferior parietal region, which is vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, analyzed data from 270 participants aged 61, who underwent polysomnography sleep measurements and high-resolution brain imaging. The results showed that those with less slow-wave and REM sleep were more likely to have smaller volumes of the inferior parietal region, which can lead to visuospatial impairment.
Visuospatial impairment is a common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, where individuals struggle to interpret visual information. The study’s findings suggest that doctors may be able to identify at-risk patients earlier by analyzing their sleep patterns.
The researchers also hope to explore the connection between sleep quality and the glymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in clearing waste from the brain during slow-wave sleep.
Source: https://www.futurity.org/poor-sleep-quality-alzheimers-disease-3278982