Jocelyn Cheng, a neurologist and senior director of neuroscience clinical research at Eisai U.S., is shedding light on the possible connections between sleep patterns and Alzheimer's disease. Known for her extensive work in health journalism, Cheng currently serves as a news reporter and editor for Health, covering breaking news and trending topics in health and wellness. Her work has graced the pages of The Heights, an independent student newspaper at Boston College, as well as Minnesota Monthly. Prior to her role at Health, Cheng contributed to the Observer, Good Housekeeping, CNN, and Vice.
Cheng's interest in the relationship between sleep and cognitive decline, particularly Alzheimer's disease, drives her research and reporting. She emphasizes that delayed or reduced REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep might be linked to Alzheimer's-related pathological changes. Cheng advises individuals who suspect they aren’t getting enough REM sleep to consult a doctor.
In discussing sleep health, Cheng recommends focusing on establishing a healthy sleep routine. This involves maintaining a consistent bedtime and wake time, turning off electronic devices 30 minutes before sleeping, and avoiding alcohol and large meals at night. While sleep trackers are popular, Cheng warns against relying too heavily on them due to their questionable validity.
“Rather than focusing on one stage of sleep, people should try to increase their ability to obtain a healthy amount of sleep for their age,” – Cheng
REM sleep is crucial as it constitutes about 25% of total sleep time in adults. For someone sleeping eight hours a night, this amounts to two hours of REM sleep. However, changes occur with age; notably, older adults experience reduced REM sleep.
“On average, REM sleep comprises about 25% of adult total sleep time, so if an individual gets eight hours of sleep per night, that translates to two hours of REM sleep,” – Cheng
“However, this changes with age. For example, in later or older adulthood, we see a reduction in REM.” – Cheng
Cheng underscores the importance of engaging in healthy sleep habits to achieve sufficient and good quality sleep, enabling an individual to cycle through all stages of sleep adequately. REM is one of four stages of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and reduced muscle tone. It typically occurs near the end of the first of several sleep cycles—around 90 minutes into sleep—and its duration increases as the night progresses.
“REM is one of the four stages of sleep that we cycle through during the night, characterized by rapid eye movements and reduction in muscle tone,” – Cheng
“It typically occurs near the end of the first of several sleep cycles—so about 90 minutes into sleep—and increases in duration as the night progresses.” – Cheng
The bidirectional relationship between sleep and cognitive decline is another area of interest for Cheng. She posits that poor sleep might contribute to cognitive decline and vice versa. More research is needed to confirm the link between delayed REM onset and Alzheimer's disease in larger and more diverse populations.
“The relationship may be bidirectional,” Cheng said. “Delayed REM may contribute to Alzheimer’s-type changes, and/or Alzheimer’s itself may result in prolonged REM latency.” – Cheng
The delay in REM disrupts the brain's ability to consolidate memories by interfering with processes critical to learning and memory. Yue Leng, PhD, adds that this disruption has significant implications for cognitive health.
“The delay in REM sleep disrupts the brain’s ability to consolidate memories by interfering with the process that contributes to learning and memory,” – Yue Leng, PhD
Cheng’s insights draw attention to potential associations between sleep patterns and Alzheimer's-related changes. She calls for increased awareness regarding healthy sleep habits as a proactive measure against cognitive decline.
Leave a Reply