Possible Link Between Sleep and Alzheimer's Disease

I have spent a considerable amount of time volunteering in nursing homes, a place where Alzheimer’s disease is prevalent. Because of this, an article about the possible connection between Alzheimer’s disease and sleep deprivation caught my interest.

Sleep deprivation has already been known to be harmful and can lead to effects similar to those caused by alcohol intoxication. It is also known that sleep deprivation can lead to pathological processes that are related to disease. However, it is only recently being considered that sleep deprivation is related to pathological processes that lie behind Alzheimer’s.

The possible connection is found in amyloid beta, which is a marker for Alzheimer’s. Levels of amyloid beta fluctuate based on sleep patterns. The levels drop to a minimum six hours into sleep and are restored to the highest level six hours after being awake. These changes tend to level out as one ages, and in people with brain plaques, levels of amyloid beta remain constant. This suggests that better sleep could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease later on in life.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/sleep/articles/2011/09/28/study-suggests-link-between-sleep-deprivation-alzheimers-risk