The Complex Interplay between Sleep and Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Epidemiological View
Melanie Bergmann1, Lena Tschiderer2, Lisa Seekircher2
1Department of Neurology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria.
Neuroepidemiology
|May 15, 2025
Summary
The link between sleep disorders and neurodegeneration remains unclear. This review found varied associations between sleep issues and Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia, highlighting a need for better studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- The relationship between sleep disorders and neurodegeneration (NDG) is complex and not fully understood.
- Epidemiological studies investigating the link between sleep disturbances and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and general dementia were reviewed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review epidemiological studies to clarify the association between sleep disorders and the subsequent onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
- To synthesize existing evidence on how various sleep features impact the risk of developing AD, PD, or dementia.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed for case-control and prospective cohort studies up to August 8, 2024.
- Data on patient demographics, sleep characteristics, and NDG outcomes were extracted, and study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.
Main Results:
- 52 studies involving over 2.9 million individuals were analyzed, with follow-up periods ranging from 3 to 40 years.
- Associations between sleep duration, quality, chronotype, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, and restless legs syndrome with PD, AD, and dementia showed inconsistent or non-significant risk ratios.
- A significant variability existed in study aims, sleep measures (only 12 used objective measures), diagnostic criteria, and follow-up durations.
Conclusions:
- The current epidemiological evidence on the relationship between sleep disorders and neurodegeneration is highly variable.
- Further comprehensive studies employing standardized and objective sleep assessments are crucial for a clearer understanding of this association.
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