Sleeping pill combats Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and debilitating brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, and currently has no cure. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta and tau proteins in the brain, which form clumps and tangles that interfere with communication between brain cells, leading to cognitive decline and memory loss.

 

Recent research has shown that sleep disturbances may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, many people who are eventually diagnosed with the disease start experiencing difficulty falling and staying asleep years before cognitive problems such as memory loss and confusion emerge. This creates a vicious cycle: Alzheimer’s disease involves changes to the brain that disrupt sleep, and poor sleep accelerates harmful changes to the brain.

 

However, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a possible way to break that cycle. In a small, two-night study, people who took a common sleeping pill before bed experienced a drop in the levels of key Alzheimer’s proteins. This is a promising sign, since higher levels of these proteins are associated with worsening disease.

 

The sleeping pill used in the study is called suvorexant, and it works by blocking the actions of a chemical in the brain called orexin, which helps regulate wakefulness. Orexin levels are typically higher in people with Alzheimer’s disease, leading to disrupted sleep patterns. By blocking orexin, suvorexant can help people fall asleep and stay asleep, and potentially slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
 

The study included 20 people, all of whom were over the age of 60 and had no history of sleep disorders or cognitive impairment. Half of the participants were given a single 20-milligram dose of suvorexant before bedtime, while the other half received a placebo (normal medical drug). The participants’ cerebrospinal fluid was tested before and after the study to measure levels of amyloid beta and tau proteins.

The results showed that the people who took suvorexant had a significant drop in levels of both proteins, while those who received the placebo did not. The researchers cautioned that the study was small and short-term, and more research is needed to determine whether suvorexant can slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease over the long-term.

 

However, the findings are encouraging and suggest that sleep disturbances may be a promising target for preventing or treating Alzheimer’s disease. There is growing evidence that disrupted sleep is not just a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, but may actually contribute to its development and progression. By addressing sleep problems early on, it may be possible to slow or even stop the disease before cognitive symptoms appear.

 

There are several other drugs in development that target orexin, including lemborexant, which was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of insomnia. It is possible that these drugs could also have a beneficial effect on Alzheimer’s disease, although more research is needed.

 

In conclusion, the recent study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis provides new hope for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. By targeting sleep disturbances, it may be possible to slow or stop the progression of the disease before cognitive symptoms appear.