NEW YORK, Sept 9: Researchers are delving into the connection between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease, a topic that remains partially understood. A recent 2023 study suggests that using sleeping pills might help reduce the build-up of toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s.

The study, conducted by scientists from Washington University in St. Louis, investigated the effects of suvorexant, a common insomnia medication. Participants who took suvorexant for two nights at a sleep clinic showed a slight reduction in amyloid-beta and tau proteins—markers linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Although the study involved a small group of healthy adults and was limited to two nights, it highlights the potential link between sleep quality and Alzheimer’s molecular markers.

Disrupted sleep can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s, often preceding symptoms like memory loss and cognitive decline. By the time these symptoms appear, amyloid-beta levels are typically high, forming plaques that disrupt brain function. Researchers are exploring whether promoting better sleep might help prevent Alzheimer’s by allowing the brain to clear these proteins and other waste products more effectively.

Despite the promising results, experts caution against using sleeping pills as a preventative measure for Alzheimer’s. Neurologist Brendan Lucey, who led the study, advises that it would be premature for individuals concerned about Alzheimer’s to start taking suvorexant regularly. The study involved 38 middle-aged participants with no cognitive impairment or sleep issues, and while the sleeping pills reduced amyloid-beta levels by 10 to 20 percent, they did not significantly impact sleep quality or tau levels in a lasting way.

The use of sleeping pills over extended periods can lead to dependency and may result in shallower sleep, which has been associated with higher levels of tau tangles and amyloid-beta. Previous research by Lucey and colleagues linked poor-quality slow-wave sleep to elevated levels of these proteins.

In the study, participants received either a dose of suvorexant or a placebo and their cerebrospinal fluid was sampled to measure protein levels before and after sleep. While a higher dose of suvorexant temporarily reduced levels of hyperphosphorylated tau, this effect was not sustained, and tau levels returned to baseline within 24 hours.

Lucey remains hopeful that future research involving older adults and longer-term use of sleeping pills might reveal more significant effects on Alzheimer’s-related proteins. However, the current understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and the role of abnormal protein clumps remains under scrutiny, as previous efforts to lower amyloid levels have not led to effective treatments.

While the link between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer’s is increasingly recognized, and improving sleep hygiene and treating conditions like sleep apnea are sensible approaches to maintaining brain health, Lucey acknowledges that the development of drugs targeting the sleep-Alzheimer’s connection is still in the early stages.

“I’m hopeful that we will eventually develop drugs that capitalize on the link between sleep and Alzheimer’s to prevent cognitive decline,” said Lucey. “But we’re not quite there yet.”