Alzheimer's Disease Possibly Linked To Sleep Deprivation

sonnejw0 writes "NewScientist is reporting a link between sleep deprivation and Alzheimer's Disease via an increased amyloid-beta plaque load thought responsible for a large part of the symptoms of the disease, in mice. Medication to abrogate insomnia reduced the plaque load. Also discussed is a recently discovered sleep cycle of amyloid-beta deposition in the brain, in which levels decrease while asleep. 'Holtzman also tried sending the mice to sleep with a drug that is being trialled for insomnia, called Almorexant. This reduced the amount of plaque-forming protein. He suggests that sleeping for longer could limit the formation of plaques, and perhaps block it altogether.'"

"You can sleep when you're demented"

[Anonymous Coward]

"You can sleep when you're demented"

Got an idea if you don't have time for sleep

[vehicle tracking]

Why don't we all just start taking Holtzman?

I stayed up all night...

[nycguy]

...trying to think of a clever comment, but now I forgot it!

As a graduate student...

[magsol]

...I am SO screwed. I think.

But... But... But...

[Greyfox]

A while back they said that caffeine could prevent or slow the disease. Since then I've been drinking 12 cups of coffee a day and sleep on average 30 minutes a night! And now this? Bastards!

Re:Why do we sleep?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

The presence of large numbers of old people makes hunting for food way easier. If you aren't picky.