Matt Walker: What's the connection between sleep and Alzheimer's disease?

What's the connection between sleep and Alzheimer's disease?

Does not getting enough sleep lead to Alzheimer's disease? Sleep scientist Matt Walker explains the relationship between the two  -- and how researchers are exploring how to use sleep to decrease our chances of developing this condition.

Researchers are uncovering a powerful connection between sleep quality and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Just one night of lost sleep can cause a measurable spike in toxic beta-amyloid proteins linked to the condition. Deep non-REM sleep activates a cleansing process in the brain, which helps clear away these harmful proteins. This discovery suggests that improving sleep in midlife could reduce Alzheimer's risk and shift the focus from treatment to prevention.