Study links have delayed REM sleep with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s

A new study found a link between the rapid sleep of eye movements (REM) and Alzheimer’s disease.

The search for China, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia by the Alzheimer’s association, analyzed the sleep cycles of 128 adults in different cognition states.

The study revealed that the highest occurrence of latency REM – that is to say that it takes more time for someone to reach the first REM period after asleep – was associated with the highest risk of Alzheimer.

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Researchers have concluded that the prolonged REM latency could serve as a “new risk factor marker” for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior scientist in the behavior of the Rand Corporation in California, said that this study adds to “growing evidence” that specific sleep characteristics, such as a prolonged REM sleep, are linked to Alzheimer’s biomarkers.

The prolonged latency of REM sleep could be a marker for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, the researchers discovered. (istock)

“Sleep REM is the sleeping stage when dreams occur mainly, and is of crucial importance for memory consolidation and emotional treatment,” said Troxel based at Utah, which is also the author of “Sharing The Covers: Every couple’s Guide to Better Sleep”, said Fox News Digital.

This new research is aligned with the results of the own Troxel laboratory, which have shown that other signs of poor sleep health – such as a shorter duration and poor quality – are associated with a worst cognitive function.

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“Sleep disturbances can contribute to the accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins, key characteristics of Alzheimer’s pathology,” said the sleep expert.

“But it is also important to note that the pathological process of Alzheimer itself can disrupt sleep, suggesting a bidirectional association between sleep problems and cognitive decline.”

An expert in brain health claims that the correlation between a good night’s sleep and the risk of dementia has been “understood for a long time”. (istock)

Dr. Giulio Taglialatela, vice-president and director of the Research Institute of the Brain Health Institute of the University of Texas Medical Branch, reacted to these results in a separate interview with Fox News Digital.

Taglialatela said it was “understood for a long time” that spending a good night’s sleep is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.

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“Our brains use sleep to eliminate toxic proteins, such as those associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and these results show that the cleaning mechanism is less effective when it takes more to enter the REM cycle,” he noted.

“Unfortunately, there is nothing that an individual can do to control the time it takes to enter paradoxical sleep”, the expert. “”

“Our brains use sleep to eliminate toxic proteins, such as those associated with Alzheimer’s disease.”

However, the expert said that the results provide a “promising avenue” to predict the probability that someone ultimately develops dementia.

“Early intervention in Alzheimer’s disease is essential to delay its progression, and the measurement of sleep REM could be a marker to indicate who can be a candidate for treatment before even starting to show an altered cognitive function,” said Taglialatela.

“Early intervention in Alzheimer’s disease is essential to delay its progression, and the measurement of paradoxical sleep could be a marker to indicate who can be a candidate for treatment before even starting to show an altered cognitive function,” said an expert. (istock)

Potential limitations

The study had certain limits, the researchers recognized – mainly that it was transversal, “and therefore the management of the association cannot be determined”.

The size of the sample was also relatively small and the researchers only concentrated on a specific type of tau protein.

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It is also possible that surveillance of sleep in a clinical framework can introduce “environmental disorders”, which has an impact on the precision of the sleep measurement, noted the researchers. “Future studies will benefit from the research in the middle of the real world,” they wrote.

Tips for sleep improvements

Although these results are important, said Troxel, it encourages individuals not to authorize the information to be “another source of concern that keeps you awake at night”.

Focusing on basic sleep habits is the “most effective” means of supporting brain health and general well-being, an expert said. (istock)

“Avoid the tendency to become too fixed on metrics such as the percentage of REM sleep or the latency of consumers’ sleep trackers, because they have limited precision in determining the sleep architecture,” she warned. “The obsession with these data can increase anxiety, which is a powerful sleep disruptor.”

The best approach is to focus on the foundations of good sleep health, said the expert.

Adults should endeavor from seven to nine o’clock in Shuteye and have to maintain coherent sleep and awakening times, according to Troxel.

“The obsession with these data can increase anxiety, which is a powerful sleep disruptor.”

“Minimize common disruptors such as excessive caffeine and alcohol, which are known to fragment paradoxical sleep, (as well as) screen use before bedtime,” she added.

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“Focusing on these basic sleep habits is the most effective way and most based on evidence to support the brain and overall health.”

Taglialatela also encourages individuals to focus on creating an “ideal sleep environment” while maintaining “good habits to sleep” to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.