The Link Between Sleep and Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition where patients experience difficulty sleeping. However, new research indicates that poor sleeping habits may be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis investigated the effects of decreased sleep on plaque formation. The Alzheimer's Association states that “plaques build up between [the] nerve cells. They contain deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloids.” The plaques are abnormalities that only appear in Alzheimer's disease brains, where they damage and kill nerve cells. Using microdialysis to measure protein levels, researchers tested mice who were sleep deprived and mice with normal sleeping hours.
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