Dream Sleep Delays May Indicate Early Alzheimer’s

Summary: Delayed rapid eye movement ( REM) sleep may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers discovered that those who had REM sleep had higher levels of the toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s and lower levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF), which supports memory, in their sleep.

The amygdala, a crucial area of the brain for learning and memory, is affected by prolonged REM sleep, which causes increased stress hormone levels and memory consolidation. The findings highlight the value of maintaining good sleeping habits and suggest that medications that alter sleep patterns may affect Alzheimer’s growth.

Important Facts:

    Delayed REM Impact: Those with delayed REM had 16 % more amyloid and 29 % more tau, toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s.

  • Memory Disruption: Deep sleep disruptions impair memory combination and elevate stress hormone.
  • Preventive Measures: Treating sleep disruption, avoiding big drinking, and boosting REM sleep is support mental wellbeing.

Origin: UCSF

Recent research has demonstrated that our risk of Alzheimer’s disease may be affected by both the quantity and the quality of our sleep. &nbsp,

A recent study suggests that those who wait significantly longer than normal to begin the rapid eye movement ( REM) phase of sleep may have an early sign of the disease. &nbsp,

REM follows three aspects of non-REM rest, each deeper than the last. Depending on time, the four phases may take 90 moments or more to complete, and a man does cycle through them four or five times during a normal day. Older folks take longer to reach REM. &nbsp,

Compared to those who had early REM sleep, those with delayed REM sleep had 16 % more amyloid and 29 % more tau. Credit: Neuroscience News

During REM sleep the mental processes memories, particularly those that are physically charged, and puts them into long-term store. &nbsp,

Yue Leng, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF, said:” The pause in REM sleep disrupts the brain’s ability to strengthen memories by interfering with the process that helps to learning and memory. &nbsp,

” If it is inappropriate or delayed, it may increase the stress estrogen cortisol”, said Leng, who is part of the&nbsp, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

” This can affect the body’s hippocampus, a essential framework for memory combination”. &nbsp,

Leng is a top author of the paper, which appears Jan. 27&nbsp, in&nbsp, Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. &nbsp,

Higher rates of amyloid, tau&nbsp,

Experts from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing followed 128 people who had an average age of 70. Third had Alzheimer’s, and about one-third had mild cognitive impairment, a regular prelude to Alzheimer’s. The remainder had regular thinking. &nbsp,

The participants in the study slept overnight in the center, so researchers could determine their frequency activity, eye movements, heartrate and breathing. Fitness trackers you catch some of this information, but it is less accurate. &nbsp,

The participants were divided into early and later REM sleep by the academics. The first group typically reached REM after falling asleep no later than 98 minutes, while the later group did so after more than 193 moments. &nbsp,

Those with Alzheimer’s were more likely to have delayed REM sleep, and they also tended to had higher levels of the two dangerous protein, amyloid and beta, found in people with the problem. &nbsp,

Compared to those who had early REM sleep, those with delayed REM sleep had 16 % more amyloid and 29 % more tau. Additionally, they had 39 % less of the healthy protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF), which falls in Alzheimer’s. &nbsp,

” Future studies should study the effects of certain medications that affect sleeping patterns, as these may change illness progression”, Leng said. &nbsp,

Melatonin can promote REM sleep, and studies on mice have demonstrated that it reduces tau and amyloid accumulation. Other medications have been shown to lower tau and amyloid as well as those that treat insomnia by blocking a chemical that suppresses REM sleep. &nbsp,

People who are worried about their risk of Alzheimer’s should develop sound sleep habits that facilitate the transition from light to REM sleep.

According to Dantao Peng, MD, of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, who is also a senior author of the paper,” this includes treating conditions like sleep apnea and avoiding heavy drinking, since both can interfere with a healthy sleep cycle.” &nbsp,

If patients are concerned about Alzheimer’s, they should talk to their doctor about their concerns.

Authors: &nbsp, Co-first authors are Jiangli Jin, MD, of China-Japan Friendship Hospital and the School of Clinical Medicine in Beijing, and Jiong Chen of the Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center. For a complete list of authors, please see the paper. &nbsp,

Funding: &nbsp, Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology ( grant# 2021ZD0201902 ) and the Chinese National Health Commission ( grant# 2020ZD10 ). &nbsp,

About this Alzheimer’s disease and sleep research news

Author: Suzanne Leigh
Source: UCSF
Contact: Suzanne Leigh – UCSF
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.
” Association of rapid eye movement sleep latency with multimodal biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease” by Yue Leng et al. Alzheimer’s &amp, Dementia


Abstract

Rapid eye movement sleep lag and multiple neuroimaging biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease are related.

INTRODUCTION

Sleep disturbances are associated with Alzheimer’s disease ( AD ) &nbsp, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias ( ADRD), but the relationship between sleep architecture, particularly rapid eye movement ( REM) sleep, and AD/ADRD biomarkers remains unclear.

METHODS

We enrolled 128 adults ( 64 with Alzheimer’s disease, 41 with mild cognitive impairment]MCI], and 23 with normal cognition]NC] ), mean age 70.8&nbsp, ±&nbsp, 9.6 years, 56.9 % female, from a tertiary hospital in China. Participants underwent overnight polysomnography ( PSG), amyloid β ( Aβ ) positron emission tomography ( PET ), and plasma biomarker analysis: phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (p-tau181 ), neurofilament light ( NfL ), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF).

RESULTS

After adjusting for demographics, apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) ε4 status, cognition, and comorbidities, the highest tertile of REM latency was associated with higher Aβ burden ( β&nbsp, =&nbsp, 0.08, 95 % confidence interval]CI]: 0.03 to 0.13, &nbsp, p&nbsp, =&nbsp, 0.002 ), elevated p-tau181 ( β&nbsp, =&nbsp, 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.02 to 0.13, &nbsp, p&nbsp, =&nbsp, 0.002 ), and reduced BDNF levels ( β&nbsp, =&nbsp, -0.47, 95 % CI: –0.68 to –0.13, &nbsp, p&nbsp, =&nbsp, 0.013 ), compared to the lowest tertile.

DISCUSSION

Prolonged REM latency might be a novel risk factor or marker for AD/ADRD pathogenesis.

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