How we can slow down or prevent Alzheimer's (Sleep)

Medical Xpress / Murdoch University / Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Mon. ^ | June 25, 2024 | Louise N. Pivac et al

[ConservativeMind]

Getting more than six hours of quality sleep a night may help prevent, or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to new research.

The research has found the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, a process linked to the development and progression of the disease, is closely related to individual sleep patterns.

The study highlighted that poorer sleep quality, and lower quantity, were associated with faster accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain, in older adults whose memory and thinking were still unimpaired.

Associate Professor Stephanie Rainey-Smith said the findings suggest new hope for us all.

"Alzheimer's disease is a condition traditionally diagnosed in later life, but whose pathological processes commence much earlier," Associate Professor Rainey-Smith said.

"There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer's disease, but our research suggests that we should be looking at personalized sleep improvement interventions as a modifiable risk factor against Alzheimer's with potential to delay or prevent the onset and progression of symptoms for those in the early stages of the disease.

"Our findings, add to the evidence regarding how lifestyle factors like sleep might be harnessed in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases."

"We are delighted to have been able to support this research which highlights the importance of quality sleep for brain health," Professor Vicky Vass said.

"We look forward to learning more about how sleep improvement could provide new hope in making Alzheimer's a distant memory."

The longitudinal study involved an analysis of 189 cognitively unimpaired adults aged 60 to 80 years, with up to six years of follow-up data including brain imaging.

[ConservativeMind]

This is another association, but they followed the subjects for six years.

It seems plausible that sleep helps the body clear brain waste.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Veto!]

Great news. My brain must be in terrific shape because I usually sleep 10 hours every night. If I have to get up early and only get 8, I’m walking into walls and yelling at the cat for the rest of the day.

[alternatives?]

I wonder if the awake time is equivalent under both scenarios.

[CFW]

I’d love to get more that 3 or 4 hours of sleep at a time. I’ve tried everything. I’ll go to bed around 10 tonight and be awake around 2:00 a.m.

[God luvs America]

vitamin D and exercise...

[Valpal1]

Live fast, die senile.

Going to be lot of senile old gamer guys in 20 or 30 years.

[KrisKrinkle]

My bladder won’t let me get as much as 6 hours of quality sleep in a row.

[Bigg Red]

Eating certain foods does that to me. Could it be something in your diet?

[goodnesswins]

Have you tried GABA and L-Theanine together? I am finding it helps me get back to sleep...my doc recommended them.

[Jonty30]

The best schedule, I think, is to sleep between 2030 and 0500. If I had been wiser, that’s the sleep schedule I would have kept.

[Jane Long]

Which supplements (for sleep) have you tried?

[Jane Long]

Agree.

Hard to believe that the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia can be attributed to lack of sleep.

[Does so]

factors like sleep might be harnessed in the fight against NEURODEGENERATIVE diseases.”
^

Veterinarians and people who live on eastern shorelines of US’ lakes are subject to Cyanobacteria which cause NEURODEGENERATIVE diseases.

[plain talk]

I know the feeling. Magnesium has helped me in that regard but even then I often wake up in middle of night and have trouble falling back asleep.

[Mean Daddy]

Getting and wearing hearing aids is another.

[Bob434]

the problem is that Alzheimer’s patients get what’s called ‘Sundowners syndrome’ where they can’t sleep at night, which is hwy they roam around constantly- We took care of someone with Alzheimer’s and got little sleep ourselves as the person would roam around at night, go outside- in winter- etc- we always had to be vigilant-

For anyone taking care of patients with alzheimer’s, install locks at the top of the door- patients won’t be able to figure it out- at least the one we took care of didn’t thankfully-

I know folks who have insomnia and get only like 2-4 hours a night- they’ve tried lots of stuff to try to help get more- but they just lie awake or wake up after only a few hours sleep- and can’t get back to sleep-

[Bob434]

same with some folks i know- i don’t think they have alzheimer’s, but rather insomnia- but whatever the cause- they have gone for many years not gettign a full night’s sleep- every once in awhile, they will get so exhausted that they do sleep the whole night through- sometimes a few nights in a row, but then the sleeplessness comes back unfortunately- It must be miserable suffering from insomnia-

[Bob434]

hmmm- interesting- never heard that before- we live right on a lake- will have to look into that-

[ProtectOurFreedom]

You are like me.

I find vigorous exercise can get me more hours of sleep, usually six to seven. But, no exercise, and I’m usually awake at 4-5 hours. I’m turning 73 in a couple weeks. I use a CPAP machine which helps, but is not a cure-all.