The Slowing Effect of Deep Sleep on Alzheimer's Discovered
A new international study has revealed that a high-quality deep sleep phase slows down the progression of the disease in Alzheimer's patients, despite high orexin levels.
A new study conducted by an international research team revealed that the deep sleep phase can slow down the progression of the disease in Alzheimer's patients. The research showed that strong slow-wave brain activity provides a protective effect despite high orexin levels.
Scope and Method of the Research
An international research team monitored the brain waves and sleep cycles of 60 participants aged 60 and over, diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's, in detail throughout the night.
Examining cerebrospinal fluid samples taken from the participants the next morning, scientists analyzed the levels of a chemical messenger called orexin, which regulates the sleep-wake balance.
Orexin Levels and Cognitive Tracking
The cognitive states of the participants were regularly tracked for three years, and the obtained data were meticulously evaluated.
The findings showed that Alzheimer's symptoms worsened more rapidly within three years in patients with high levels of orexin in their cerebrospinal fluid.
The Protective Role of Deep Sleep
An important detail was detected in patients who had stronger memory-consolidating and slow-wave brain oscillations during the deep sleep phase, namely the NREM stage.
It was scientifically determined that in these patients, the progression of the disease was much slower despite high orexin levels.
Toxic Proteins and New Treatment Horizons
Experts drew attention to the importance of approaches that increase deep sleep quality and balance orexin levels.
It was stated that such approaches could help clear toxic amyloid and tau proteins, which cause memory loss, from the brain in Alzheimer's patients.
Gender Differences and Future Expectations
The fact that orexin rates in female patients were significantly higher compared to males was also among the findings recorded in the study.
It was stated that treatments aimed at improving sleep quality and balancing orexin levels could open a new door in slowing down the Alzheimer's process.