A new study suggests that taking sleeping pills could help in slowing or stopping the advancement of Alzheimer’s. Read to know more.
Sleeping pills as a strategy to control Alzheimer’s?
Most people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s have trouble falling or staying asleep. Sleep disturbance from cognitive diseases is further accelerated by poor sleep that leads to damaging changes to your brain. A research team from the Washington University School of Medicine discovered sleeping pills could be a potential strategy to end this vicious cycle. As per a two-night study, a reduction in key proteins associated with Alzheimer’s was prominent in people who took a sleeping pill before bed.
Amyloid and tau proteins are associated with the cognitive disease. The deposition of amyloid proteins around brain cells formed plaques. On the other hand tau protein deposits tangles with the brain cells. This discovery is positive as the rise in these proteins has links with the worsening of cognitive abilities. The study also suggests this medication can help in slowing or stopping the progression of the disease.
More on the study
Further research is necessary in confirming the study’s viability. Moreover, Suvorexant, the aid used in the study holds FDA approval for treating insomnia. “This is a small, proof-of-concept study. It would be premature for people who are worried about developing Alzheimer’s to interpret it as a reason to start taking Suvorexant every night,” stated Brendan Lucey. Lucey is an associate professor of neurology. Additionally, the senior author of the study is also the director of Washington University’s Sleep Medicine Center.
“We don’t yet know whether long-term use is effective in staving off cognitive decline, and if it is, at what dose and for whom. Still, these results are very encouraging. This drug is already available and proven safe, and now we have evidence that it affects the levels of proteins that are critical for driving Alzheimer’s disease,” she added.