A recent study suggests that the sleep aid Ambien may unintentionally elevate the risk of brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease by promoting the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain.
Published on January 8 in Cell, the research reveals that zolpidem, the active ingredient in Ambien, suppresses the brain’s natural system responsible for clearing protein waste during dreamless sleep. This system, known as the glymphatic system, is crucial in removing harmful proteins such as tau and amyloid, which are associated with Alzheimer’s.
The study highlights potential risks of certain sleep medications. Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, co-director of the University of Rochester Center for Translational Neuromedicine and senior author of the study, stressed the significance of natural sleep for brain health. “This research underscores the potential harm caused by some pharmacological sleep aids, stressing the importance of preserving natural sleep patterns for optimal brain function,” said Nedergaard in a statement.
To investigate how the glymphatic system works during deep sleep, researchers used brain imaging and electrical recordings in lab mice. They found that norepinephrine, a brain chemical linked to stress and arousal, drives rhythmic blood vessel constrictions independent of the heartbeat. These oscillations power the glymphatic system, allowing it to clear away toxic proteins.
Lead researcher Natalie Hauglund, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford, explained, “These findings, combined with our understanding of the glymphatic system, complete the picture of brain dynamics. The slow waves, micro-arousals, and norepinephrine were the missing piece.”
The study also discovered that zolpidem interferes with these norepinephrine-driven oscillations, hindering the glymphatic system’s ability to remove waste. Researchers caution that further studies are required to determine whether long-term use of zolpidem and similar sleep aids could increase the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
