A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed that suvorexant, an FDA-approved sleeping pill, can reduce levels of Alzheimer's-related proteins in healthy individuals. This small, two-night study involved 38 participants aged 45 to 65 with no cognitive impairments, who were given either a low dose (10 mg) or a high dose (20 mg) of suvorexant, or a placebo. The results showed a significant reduction in amyloid levels by 10% to 20% and a decrease in hyperphosphorylated tau levels by 10% to 15% in the high-dose group compared to the placebo group.
Suvorexant belongs to a class of drugs known as dual orexin receptor antagonists, which block the action of orexin, a biomolecule that promotes wakefulness. The study's findings hint at the potential of sleep medications to impact the progression of Alzheimer's disease positively. However, the study's senior author, Brendan Lucey, MD, emphasizes that this is a preliminary study and more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of such medications on cognitive decline.
The study, published in the Annals of Neurology, underscores the complex relationship between sleep and Alzheimer's disease. Sleep disturbances are often early signs of Alzheimer's, and poor sleep can accelerate harmful changes in the brain. The researchers are hopeful that future studies will explore the effects of orexin inhibitors over longer periods and in older populations at higher risk of dementia. Lucey advises maintaining good sleep hygiene and consulting a sleep specialist for sleep problems, as the best current advice for those concerned about Alzheimer's disease.
