Alzheimer's disease: Neurotransmitters of the sleep-wake cycle

Jan Van Erum; Debby Van Dam; Peter Paul De Deyn

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.07.019

Alzheimer's disease: Neurotransmitters of the sleep-wake cycle

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Oct:105:72-80. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.07.019. Epub 2019 Aug 1.

Authors

Jan Van Erum¹, Debby Van Dam², Peter Paul De Deyn³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium.
² Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium; Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium; Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic of Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: p.p.de.deyn@umcg.nl.

PMID: 31377219
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.07.019

Abstract

With aging, our sleeping pattern alters. Elderly often wake unrested because their sleep time and sleep efficacy is reduced. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, these alterations are even more pronounced and may further aggravate cognitive decline. Therefore, sleep disturbances greatly impact self-care ability, caregiver exhaustion and institutionalization rate. Reestablishing an effective sleep-wake cycle in these patients still remains an unresolved challenge, partly because sleep physiology is quite complex and multiple neurotransmitter systems contribute to a single process. Gaining a better understanding of sleep physiology will be crucial for further research. Conjointly, animal models, along with a multidisciplinary approach, will be of great value to establish a common ground between AD and sleep disturbances and work towards a potential therapeutic application.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Mouse models; Neurotransmitters; Sleep physiology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Aging / metabolism*
Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
Animals
Humans
Mice
Sleep / physiology*
Sleep Wake Disorders / metabolism*
Sleep Wake Disorders / physiopathology
Wakefulness / physiology*