Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Self-reported sleep disturbance is associated with Alzheimer's disease risk in men
Christian Benedict1, Liisa Byberg2, Jonathan Cedernaes1
1Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Objective:
To study the association between self-reported sleep disturbances and dementia risk.
Methods:
Self-reported sleep disturbances and established risk factors for dementia were measured in men at ages 50 (n = 1574) and 70 (n = 1029) years. Dementia incidence was determined by reviewing their patient history between ages 50 and 90 years. In addition, plasma levels of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides 1-40 and 1-42 were measured at ages 70, 77, and 82 years.
Results:
Cox regression demonstrated that men with self-reported sleep disturbances had a higher risk of developing dementia (+33%) and Alzheimer's disease (AD, +51%) than men without self-reported sleep disturbances (both P < .05). Binary logistic regression showed the increased risk for both dementia (+114%) and AD (+192%) were highest when sleep disturbance was reported at age 70 years (both P < .001). No group differences were found in Aβ levels.
Conclusion:
Improving sleep quality may help reduce the neurodegenerative risk in older men.
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...

