Deep sleep is essential for consolidating memories. People with mild cognitive impairment, an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, often experience sleep disturbances, particularly spending less time in the deepest stage of sleep.
A recent study from Northwestern University discovered that playing gentle sounds at specific times during sleep can enhance deep, slow-wave sleep.
This effect is particularly strong in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The study found that individuals whose brains responded best to these sounds showed improved memory the next day.
The research, led by Dr. Roneil Malkani, an assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University, was published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
The research team had previously demonstrated that sound stimulation could improve memory in older adults.
In this new study, they tested the effects of sound stimulation on nine people with mild cognitive impairment over two nights in a sleep laboratory, spaced about a week apart. On one night, participants were exposed to sound stimulation, and on the other, they were not.
The sound stimulation consisted of short pulses of pink noise, which is similar to white noise but has a deeper sound. These pulses were played during the slow-wave phase of sleep. Participants took memory tests before going to bed and again in the morning.
The study found that participants who experienced an increase in slow-wave activity due to the sound stimulation were able to remember more words.
There was a strong correlation between the enhancement of deep sleep and memory improvement: the greater the enhancement of deep sleep, the better the memory response.
This research suggests that enhancing slow-wave or deep sleep might be a valuable strategy for helping people with mild cognitive impairment. The researchers hope their findings will lead to new treatments for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
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