Poor sleep linked to toxic buildup of Alzheimer's protein, memory loss

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/uoc--psl052915.php

Public Release: 1-Jun-2015
University of California - Berkeley

Sleep may be a missing piece in the Alzheimer's disease puzzle.

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have found compelling evidence that poor sleep - particularly a deficit of the deep, restorative slumber needed to hit the save button on memories - is a channel through which the beta-amyloid protein believed to trigger Alzheimer's disease attacks the brain's long-term memory.

"Our findings reveal a new pathway through which Alzheimer's disease may cause memory decline later in life," said UC Berkeley neuroscience professor Matthew Walker, senior author of the study to be published Monday, June , in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

•••••