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Is sleep disruption a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease?

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posted on 2023-06-09, 06:20 authored by Arthur Cassa Macedo, Sara Balouch, Naji TabetNaji Tabet
Sleep disturbances are routinely encountered in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and affect about 25–40% of patients in the mild-to-moderate stages of the disease. In many, sleep pathology may represent a symptom of the underlying neurodegeneration. However, a history of sleep disruption occurring years prior to onset of cognitive symptoms could represent a potential risk factor for AD. The aim of the present narrative review was to evaluate current evidence linking sleep disturbances with AD development and to understand the mechanisms that may contribute to this. Although the mechanisms by which poor sleep may contribute to AD genesis is not fully understood, emerging evidence linking disturbances in the sleep wake cycle with Aß deposition is shedding light on the relationship between sleep pathology and the subsequent development of AD. Aß burden appears to be enhanced by sleep-wake cycle disruptions and is suspected as being an important mechanism by which sleep disruptions contribute in AD development. Other mechanisms triggered by sleep disruption may also be involved in AD development, such as brain hypoxia, oxidative stress, circadian activity rhythms disturbances, overexpression of orexins, and blood-brain barrier impairment. Further understanding of the link between sleep disturbances and future development of AD is still needed before sleep disturbances are clearly marked as a preventable risk factor for AD. In these circumstances, early lifestyle interventions to help increase the quantity and quality of sleep may have a favorable outcome on decreasing the incidence of AD and this needs to be investigated further.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

ISSN

1387-2877

Publisher

IOS Press

Issue

4

Volume

58

Page range

993-1002

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Neuroscience Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Analysis and Partial Differential Equations Research Group Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-05-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-05-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-05-19

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