New research has found that reduced time spent in slow wave and rapid eye movement sleep is associated with smaller brain volumes in regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease. Using data from 270 participants, researchers discovered that poor sleep architecture was linked to brain atrophy over time, particularly in the inferior parietal region.
The study, which controlled for factors such as age, heart health, and lifestyle habits, suggests that disrupted sleep may be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The findings highlight the importance of restorative sleep for long-term brain health.
Previous research has shown that sleep deficiency is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This new study provides preliminary evidence that reduced neuroactivity during sleep may contribute to brain atrophy, thereby potentially increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study involved analyzing data from participants who had a median age of 61 years and were predominantly white females. The researchers used advanced brain imaging techniques to measure brain volumes 13-17 years later and found significant associations between poor sleep architecture and smaller brain volumes in critical regions, including the inferior parietal region.
According to lead author Gawon Cho, the study demonstrates an important association between sleep and long-term brain health, highlighting potential opportunities to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, further investigation is needed to fully understand the causal relationships between sleep architecture and Alzheimer’s disease progression.
The researchers emphasize that their findings provide a new perspective on the link between sleep quality and Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that improving sleep hygiene may be a key strategy for reducing the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/deep-sleep-alzheimers-28527