Sleep deprivation, especially in midlife, has been linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.
We’re not exactly sure But why do the two seem connected? very difficult to draw Is it an early symptom of Alzheimer’s or the actual cause?
new researchHowever, they found that turning off the circadian (related to the sleep-wake cycle) protein in mice reduced tau protein levels. The accumulation is Damage to the brain has been linked to dementia.
It has also been shown to increase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels. Dementia Prevention.
Why might your body clock be linked to dementia?
In an experiment published in the journal natural agingScientists genetically deleted a circadian protein called REV-ERBα in two groups of mice.
REV-ERBα, which helps regulate metabolic cycles and levels of inflammation, also appears to regulate NAD+ levels (the aforementioned coenzyme that appears to counteract the changes associated with dementia).
In one group of mice, the REV-ERBα protein was deleted throughout the body.
In the other group, deletions occurred only in astrocytes. star shaped cells It makes up a large part of the nervous system and helps support our brain.
In both groups of mice, the changes resulted in increased NAD+ levels.
A Conversation with WashU Medicine Regarding a separate paper published in natural neurosciencedoctor Eric S. Music“There are 82 genes associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk, and we found that the circadian rhythm regulates the activity of about half of them,” he said, who participated in both studies.
“Knowing that many of these Alzheimer’s disease genes are regulated by circadian rhythms provides an opportunity to find ways to manipulate them and identify treatments to prevent the progression of the disease.”
What does this mean?
at natural aging paperThe researchers conducted additional studies involving a combination of genetic deletion of REV-ERBα and a promising new drug. This has been shown to increase NAD+ levels.
The researchers suggest that inhibiting the protein at certain stages of dementia, such as the early stages when tau tangles form, may be more useful than at others.
“Our research will help uncover important neuroprotective mechanisms mediated by REV-ERBα in astrocytes and guide ongoing drug development efforts targeting REV-ERBα function in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.” The paper reads.
