A recent study conducted by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis suggests that the sleep medication suvorexant may help reduce the buildup of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the Annals of Neurology in 2023, the research highlights a potential connection between improved sleep quality and decreased levels of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in the brain.
The study involved 38 healthy adults who received suvorexant over a two-night period at a sleep clinic. Although the trial was limited in duration and scope, participants showed a noticeable decrease in amyloid-beta levels, which are known to form toxic plaques in Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers also observed a temporary reduction in hyperphosphorylated tau, a modified form of tau linked to cell death and tangle formation in the brain.
Sleep disturbances are increasingly recognized as early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, often preceding more recognizable symptoms like memory loss and cognitive decline. By the time these symptoms emerge, abnormal amyloid-beta levels typically reach their peak, forming clumps that disrupt normal brain function.
Potential for Sleep Improvement in Alzheimer’s Prevention
The findings from this study may point toward a new approach for mitigating Alzheimer’s risk through sleep enhancement. Dr. Brendan Lucey, the study’s lead neurologist, emphasized the importance of sleep in allowing the brain to clear out waste products, including these harmful proteins. Despite the promising results, he cautioned against interpreting these findings as a reason for widespread use of suvorexant among those concerned about Alzheimer’s. He stated, “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.”
The trial involved administering one of two doses of suvorexant or a placebo to participants aged 45 to 65. Researchers collected cerebrospinal fluid samples before, during, and after the dosing period to track protein changes. Although sleep quality did not differ significantly between groups, those receiving suvorexant exhibited a reduction of 10 to 20 percent in amyloid-beta concentrations compared to the placebo group.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Sleep’s Role
Despite these findings, the temporary nature of the tau reduction raises questions about the long-term efficacy of suvorexant for Alzheimer’s prevention. The study’s results align with earlier research linking insufficient sleep quality to elevated tau and amyloid-beta levels. Dr. Lucey noted that understanding the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s is still evolving. The prevailing theory that abnormal protein clumps drive the disease has faced increasing scrutiny, as efforts to develop effective therapies targeting amyloid-beta have largely failed to yield successful treatments.
Dr. Lucey remains optimistic that future studies involving older adults and extended use of sleep medications could provide valuable insights into the lasting effects on protein levels. However, he acknowledged that current methods of obtaining better sleep should focus on improving sleep hygiene and addressing issues such as sleep apnea.
“I’m hopeful that we will eventually develop drugs that take advantage of the link between sleep and Alzheimer’s to prevent cognitive decline,” Dr. Lucey stated. “But we’re not quite there yet.”
As the global population ages, the urgency to understand and address Alzheimer’s disease becomes increasingly critical. While medications like suvorexant demonstrate potential, the complexities of the disease underline the need for further research in both sleep and Alzheimer’s pathology.
