Sleep disorders may lead to Alzheimer's disease patients learning and memory function decline

Chemical changes similar to "jet lag" of brain cells caused by sleep disorders, which may lead to Alzheimer's disease patients learning and memory function decline, the study results recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Journal.
Many elderly people noticed that they sleep has changed, but these sleep disorders occur more frequently in patients with Alzheimer's disease in the population, and more serious. The impact of sleep problems, including Alzheimer's patients can not sleep and changes in sleep time, the specific cause is not clear.
The number of patients with Alzheimer's disease may be more awake at night, and often can not sleep at night. EEG studies show that they have been reduced sleep periods. They may feel sleepy during the day, but at night unable to sleep, and they may feel restless or agitated in the afternoon or early evening.
Experts believe that in patients with advanced stage of the disease 40 percent of the time in the evening to stay awake, and daytime sleepiness performance significantly. Some patients circadian sleep rhythm is completely reversed. While sleep changes are more common in patients with advanced disease, early disease can also observe this performance.
Whether poor sleep promoting or inhibiting the progression of Alzheimer's disease is not clear, but the present study showed that sleep disorders can accelerate memory loss.
Studies have shown that sleep disorders cause learning and memory impairment
University of California at Irvine (UCI) researchers have conducted tests in mice showed that the individual cycle circadian sleep rhythm interrupted the first time change, progress and promote chemical changes in the brain and memory problems.
The research group led by the UCI biological engineering professor Gregory Brewer, to results of this study can be applied to clinical, to people with a risk of Alzheimer's disease patients with mild cognitive abnormalities and stressed the importance of sleep management.
To find the relationship between learning, memory and circadian rhythm disorders among researchers every three days 8 hours dark period shortened to alter circadian rhythm of Alzheimer's disease in mice and normal mice. The resulting time difference so greatly reduced activity of two groups of mice. In the water maze test, compared to normal mice and did not alter the circadian rhythm of Alzheimer's disease in mice, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease alter circadian rhythms are obvious learning disabilities.
In subsequent histological study, the researchers found that in all mice brain cells, resulting in a reduced difference glutathione levels. Glutathione levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease is much lower, corresponding to their poor performance in the water maze test. Glutathione is a major antioxidant that can help important cellular components from harm. Glutathione deficiency can cause a redox reaction changes in brain cells. Redox reactions include electron transport, which would cause a change in the oxidation state of the atom, and may affect the metabolism and inflammation of the brain.
Professor Brewer believes accelerated oxidative stress is an important part of Alzheimer's disease-related learning and memory loss, and noted that there may be changes in the reduction reaction for the oxidation of drug therapy. He concluded:. "The findings suggest that clinicians and health care workers should be added to the good sleep habits in routine care, healthy habits can maximize memory retention"
The study also found that sleep medications are not usually improve sleep quality for all seniors, and there are some drugs may cause serious side effects.
Here are some available to Alzheimer's patients non-drug treatment is recommended:Regular diet and sleep;Daily exercise, but do not be carried out in four hours before bedtime;Ensure nighttime light and comfortable sleeping temperature in the bedroom;Do not lie in bed awake time; only use the bed during sleep.