Popular sleeping pill linked to reduced Alzheimer's protein buildup

A new study suggests that taking sleeping pills may help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s. Researchers found a slight decrease in two key proteins, amyloid-beta and tau, which are known to accumulate in Alzheimer’s disease.

In a study published in 2023 in Annals of Neurology, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis, found that people who took suvorexant, a common medication for insomnia, for a period of two nights had lesser build-up of amyloid-beta and tau.

Sleep issues are early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and often appear before memory loss and cognitive decline.

By the time these initial symptoms develop, levels of abnormal amyloid-beta are almost peaking, which can form clumps called plaques that clog up brain cells.

According to Alzheimer's Association, it's common for people with the degenerative disease to experience problems with sleeping. Although, the reasons for this is not entirely clear.