How Inadequate or Fragmented Sleep Can Predispose People to Atherosclerosis and Alzheimer Disease

Nearly 50% of U.S. adults sleep less than is recommended. Inadequate sleep has been linked epidemiologically to many diseases, but a biological basis for these disease associations is lacking.

Investigators conducted experiments in atherosclerosis-prone mice; sleep was interrupted or not interrupted. Interrupted sleep led to higher numbers of monocytes and larger atherosclerotic lesions and also to production of less hypocretin (orexin) in the hypothalamus. The lower production of hypocretin was the cause of the higher numbers of monocytes. Previous studies have linked higher numbers of circulating monocytes (and other white cells) to development of atherosclerosis.

Another team demonstrated, in mice, that sleep depletes levels of both amyloi…