A small new study has found that taking a sleeping pill before bed may lower the levels of certain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
This is important because high levels of these proteins are known to make Alzheimer’s worse.
People with Alzheimer’s often have trouble sleeping before they even start showing signs of memory loss. This suggests that poor sleep and the disease might be connected.
The study looked at a drug called suvorexant, which is already approved by the FDA to treat insomnia. The results suggest that sleep medications like this one might help slow down or even stop the development of Alzheimer’s.
But the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Brendan Lucey from Washington University in St. Louis, says it’s too early to say for sure. This was just a small test to see if the idea is worth studying more.
Suvorexant works by blocking a molecule in the brain called orexin. Orexin keeps us awake, so blocking it helps people fall asleep. Earlier research in mice showed that good sleep—especially sleep caused by blocking orexin—might reduce the levels of amyloid and tau proteins. These are the same proteins that build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.
In this study, researchers worked with 38 adults aged 45 to 65 who had no memory or thinking problems. The participants were split into groups. Some were given a small dose of suvorexant (10 mg), some got a larger dose (20 mg), and others were given a fake pill (placebo). They took the pills for two nights before going to bed.
The researchers tested the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to see if there were changes in protein levels. They found that people who took the higher dose of suvorexant had 10% to 20% less amyloid and 10% to 15% less tau in their brain fluid than those who took the placebo.
While this is exciting news, Dr. Lucey says more research is needed. His team is now working on longer-term studies with people who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Still, the findings suggest that improving sleep might one day be a way to protect the brain. Until then, Dr. Lucey advises people to focus on getting good quality sleep. If you’re having trouble sleeping, it’s a good idea to talk to a sleep doctor.
This research gives hope that something as simple as better sleep—or safe sleep medication—might play a part in fighting off memory loss and dementia in the future.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Scientists find the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease and findings of Alzheimer’s might not be primarily a brain disease. A new theory suggests it’s an autoimmune condition.
For more about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about These places in U.S. have the most cases of Alzheimer’s disease and findings of Scientists confirm the link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease.
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