A study has uncovered a significant link between sleep architecture and Alzheimer’s disease.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that a certain type of sleep loss is associated with a decrease in the volume of brain regions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the most prevalent forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Experts stress that efforts are required to eliminate risk factors and possibly lower the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease because the precise cause and treatment are unknown.
Researchers have long been interested in the connection between sleep and Alzheimer’s disease because the disease causes the brain to shrink anatomically.
The study team examined the interplay between particular sleep phases and Alzheimer’s disease-prone brain areas. They analyzed 270 participants in an atherosclerosis study. They used MRI to examine the brain’s anatomical structure and polysomnography to measure the stages of sleep 13 to 17 years later.
The study discovered that smaller inferior parietal lobe regions were linked to shorter sleep stages. These are the deepest sleep stages, during which breathing, heart rate, and brain waves are regularly monitored.
The researchers highlight that this is the first study to explore the relationship between sleep stages and the atrophy of Alzheimer’s-vulnerable brain areas in older adults.
These results align with previous research suggesting the crucial role of sleep in clearing toxins from the brain, further underscoring the importance of quality sleep.
While the exact mechanisms require further investigation, the researchers emphasize that prioritizing adequate sleep is a prudent health choice.
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