Maintaining Alzheimer's Symptoms Under Control: Crucial Lifelong Routine to Follow
Alzheimer's Disease may not be an inevitable outcome for everyone, suggests a recent study from UC Berkeley. The research indicates that some individuals can avoid the memory and cognitive impairment associated with the disease, even if they have high levels of amyloid-beta proteins in their brains.
The study was led by Dr. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Previously, Dr. Walker's work focused on the importance of sleep, especially in the elderly.
In the present study, Dr. Walker and his colleagues proved that deep sleep can prevent the brain changes that indicate the onset of the "amyloid cascade" and safeguard memory and cognition. They examined 62 cognitively healthy adults regardless of their education or physical activity levels, two factors known to enhance cognitive resilience in old age.
The researchers discovered that individuals with Alzheimer's-associated brain changes performed better on memory function tests when they got more deep sleep. Interestingly, deep sleep made little difference in memory function for those who did not have the same brain changes, indicating that the positive effect was limited to those who had Alzheimer-related brain changes.
"Deep sleep almost serves as a lifeline that keeps memory afloat rather than memory getting dragged down by the weight of Alzheimer's pathology," said Dr. Walker. He added that improving sleep is something that can be done, offering hope for those at risk of developing the disease.
To get better sleep, especially deep sleep, Dr. Walker suggests ventilating your sleep space, taking a warm bath before bed, getting enough vitamin D from your diet or supplements, exposing yourself to morning sunlight, moving every day, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods before bed, and using pink noise to aid sleep.
Despite the encouraging findings, more research is needed to confirm these results and understand the mechanisms involved. However, the study underscores the significance of deep sleep for brain health and has implications for the potential prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
- Dr. Matthew Walker, the study's lead researcher, suggests supplementing with enough vitamin D, as it can aid in obtaining deeper sleep, potentially benefitting those at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
- The study on Alzheimer's Disease, conducted by UC Berkeley's Center for Human Sleep Science, highlights the importance of mental health, as improved sleep can help safeguard memory and cognition, especially in those with neurological disorders like Alzheimer's.
- Future medical-health and wellness research should focus on understanding the mechanisms involved in deep sleep's potential role in preventing Alzheimer's Disease, as the initial study suggests that better sleep can protect against the memory and cognitive impairment associated with the disease.
