Research

Decreased deep sleep linked to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis •
Reduced amounts of slow brain waves – the kind that occur in deep, refreshing sleep – are associated with high levels of the toxic brain protein tau. This computer-generated image maps the areas where the link is strongest, in shades of red and orange. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that decreased deep sleep is associated with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Poor sleep is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. People with the disease tend to wake up tired, and their nights become even less refreshing as memory loss and other symptoms worsen. But how and why restless nights are linked to Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood.