The association seemed stronger in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer disease.
Patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) are agitated at night and sleep poorly. Because orexin A helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle and increases wakefulness and arousal, researchers examined links among cognitive functioning, orexin levels in cerebrospinal fluid, and polysomnography-measured sleep in 48 patients with AD and 29 nondemented controls of similar age and sex.
Of the eligible AD patients, 19 were excluded because of sleep apnea or periodic leg movements in sleep. Participants were divided by disease severity (Mini-Mental State Exam [MMSE] scores: mild, ≥21; moderate/severe, <21).
Patients in the moderate/severe group had higher orexin levels and higher total tau and phosphorylated tau than controls and more impaired sleep than co…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)