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Insomnia: Risk Factor for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Sohaib A Shamim1, Zain I Warriach2, Muhammad Ali Tariq3
1Neurology, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA.
Cureus
|December 7, 2019
Summary
Insomnia, characterized by sleep disturbances, is a significant risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Further research is needed to clarify this bidirectional relationship and potential interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or non-restorative sleep.
- It is increasingly recognized as a symptom and potential risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a traditional review analyzing the relationship between insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases.
- To synthesize current literature on insomnia as a risk factor for neurodegeneration.
Main Methods:
- A traditional literature review was performed using PubMed.
- Included studies focused on human subjects, were published within the last 10 years, and had full-text availability.
Main Results:
- The review concludes that insomnia is an important risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases.
- A complex, bidirectional relationship exists between insomnia and neurodegenerative disorders.
Conclusions:
- Insomnia's independent contribution to neurodegeneration requires further investigation, considering confounding factors like mood, genetics, and environment.
- Early cognitive screening in older insomnia patients and further sleep study data are recommended. The therapeutic role of hypnotics in preventing neurodegeneration warrants assessment.
Keywords:
alzheimer' diseasechronic short sleepersdementiainsomnianeurodegenerationnon-restorative sleepMore Related Videos
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