Author(s) :

Ella Fox, Brittany Katz.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The debilitating neurodegenerative condition referred to as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), results in severe cognitive deterioration, including deficits in memory, confusion, and abnormal behaviour. Sleep plays a crucial role in sustaining cognitive health, as it supports brain repair and performs memory consolidation. Complaints of consistently disrupted sleeping habits, such as reduced quality and fragmented sleep, are increasingly recognized as potential risk factors for AD. The fundamental elements of healthy sleep: its structure, oscillations and benefits- then considering how changes in sleep architecture, including alterations in REM and NREM stages, are associated with cognitive decline. Another significant concept is the finding that sleep deprivation is often correlated with increased levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau proteins in the brain, which are two biomarkers of AD pathology and accumulate with disease progression. This review examines the connection between unhealthy sleep patterns during aging and AD development, emphasizing the need for continued research into how improving sleep hygiene could potentially moderate the effects of cognitive deterioration.