Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
06:23
A Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Model using Vibrating Orbital Rotor to Induce Cognitive Deficit and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Young Wild-Type Mice
Published on: September 22, 2020
Chronic sleep restriction activates complement and coagulation cascades: a molecular link to accelerated brain aging
Pawan K Jha1,2, Utham K Valekunja1,2, Akhilesh B Reddy3,4
1Department of Systems Pharmacology & Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Npj Biological Timing and Sleep
|March 3, 2026
Summary
Chronic sleep restriction in mice accelerated brain aging, altering proteins involved in complement and coagulation pathways. This suggests a link between insufficient sleep and neurodegeneration, even without genetic predisposition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Proteomics
- Aging Research
Background:
- Chronic sleep insufficiency is a widespread issue linked to age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
- Sleep deprivation accelerates neurodegeneration in animal models, but its effect on general brain aging is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if chronic sleep curtailment (CSC) leads to brain aging in wild-type mice.
- To compare the brain proteome of young sleep-restricted mice with aged control groups.
Main Methods:
- Simulated modern-day restricted sleep conditions in young wild-type mice.
- Analyzed the cortex proteome of sleep-restricted mice and compared it with proteomes from different aged control groups.
- Utilized pathway analysis to identify common proteins and enriched pathways between sleep restriction and aging.
Main Results:
- Identified alterations in 145 sleep-related proteins and 1275 age-related proteins.
- Found 71 common proteins between sleep restriction and aging.
- Pathway analysis revealed enrichment in complement and coagulation cascade pathways, notably involving complement component 3 (C3), fibrinogen alpha (FGA), and fibrinogen beta (FGB).
Conclusions:
- Chronic sleep restriction may contribute to brain aging.
- The complement and coagulation cascade pathways are potentially implicated in the brain aging process induced by chronic sleep restriction.
- This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms linking sleep loss and neurodegeneration.
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