Insomnia Treatment Linked to Potential Brain Damage Prevention in Alzheimer's
Having Trouble Snoozing? Here's a Game-Changer for Your Brain's Health
Struggling with sleep issues? You're not alone! A whopping 70 million people worldwide grapple with sleep disorders, whether it's insomnia or sleep apnea.
Sleep deprivation takes a toll on your body, impacting your focus and mental health. Research indicates that sleep disorders can increase the risk of various health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal issues, and even Alzheimer's disease.
"Disturbed sleep quality and sleep disorders often appear years before other Alzheimer's disease symptoms become apparent," said Dr. David M. Holtzman, a renowned neurologist at Washington University School of Medicine.
Research from his lab, along with others, has shown that disrupted sleep can elevate levels of tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. A new study by Holtzman's team might provide a promising solution.
Say Goodnight to Tau: A New Hope for Sleep Aid
Introducing Lemborexant, a sleep aid medication that could revolutionize brain health!
Lemborexant is a dual orexin receptor antagonist. "These drugs work by blocking orexin, a brain protein that keeps us awake," explained Samira Parhizkar, PhD, the study's first author. By blocking orexin signaling, the medication allows sleep to occur quickly and easily, acting like a spark that turns off the light in your brain, enabling it to finally rest.
The researchers used Lemborexant to treat a mouse model genetically predisposed to tau buildup in the brain. In healthy brains, tau acts as a "track" supporting cell structure and aiding in nutrient and signal transport. However, in Alzheimer's disease, abnormal tau loses its shape, leading to tangle formation, cell dysfunction, and eventual death.
Preventing Tau Accumulation and Brain Injury
At the end of the study, the team found that treating the mice with Lemborexant prevented tau buildup in the brain, reducing inflammatory brain damage linked to Alzheimer's disease.
"The excessive accumulation of abnormal tau is closely associated with brain inflammation," said Parhizkar. "By decreasing both the abnormal buildup of tau and inflammatory damage, Lemborexant may offer significant protection for the brain from these sources of injury."
Scientists also discovered that mice treated with the sleep aid experienced a 30-40% larger hippocampus volume compared to those not treated with the medication. The larger hippocampal volume suggests reduced brain damage and cell loss in mice treated with Lemborexant, indicating its potential as a promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Connecting the Dots: Sleep Aids and Cognitive Health
Gary Small, MD, a psychiatrist at Hackensack University Medical Center, supported the findings of this study. "Innovative treatments that reduce tau accumulation in the brain and promote restful sleep may combat Alzheimer's disease and chronic insomnia," he said. However, he noted that "while this study is encouraging, findings in an animal model must be tested in clinical trials of human volunteers before determining the safety and effectiveness of this potential treatment."
So, if you're battling sleep disorders, there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon—one that could have a significant impact on your brain's health!
Sources:1. Reichelt, J. et al. (2020). "Lemborexant, a selective, orally administered dual orexin receptor antagonist, attenuated sleep loss and its adverse neuroinflammatory effects in male mice." Neuropharmacology, 155: 108900.2. Parhizkar, S. et al. (2021). "Lemborexant, a selective, orally administered dual orexin receptor antagonist, reduces tau accumulation and neuroinflammation in male and female mice." Neurobiology of Aging, 189: 35-48.3. Park, H. et al. (2015). "Tau Pathology and Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Tauopathies." J Neurosci Res, 93(6): 953-965.
- struggles with sleep disorders can increase the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, as a new study suggests that sleep aid medication Lemborexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist, could potentially prevent tau buildup in the brain, reducing inflammatory brain damage and promoting healthier brain function.
- The scientific community is currently studying Lemborexant's potential benefits, with experiments showing that it prevented tau buildup in mice, reduced brain inflammation, and even resulted in a 30-40% larger hippocampus volume.
- A larger hippocampal volume suggests reduced brain damage and cell loss in mice treated with Lemborexant, making it a promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease and other neurological-disorders associated with sleep issues.
- This research complements previous studies indicating that disturbed sleep quality and sleep disorders may appear years before other Alzheimer's disease symptoms become apparent.
- While these findings are encouraging, more research is needed in the form of clinical trials with human volunteers to determine the medication's safety and effectiveness as a treatment for various health-and-wellness conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and chronic insomnia.
