Prescription sleep aid suvorexant may potentially lessen accumulation of harmful Alzheimer's protein
Suvorexant, an Insomnia Medication, Shows Promise in Reducing Alzheimer's-Related Proteins
Suvorexant, a medication primarily used to treat insomnia, has shown promising results in reducing Alzheimer's-related proteins in the brain, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine [3].
The study, led by researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, found that people who took suvorexant experienced a drop in both amyloid and tau proteins, which are key Alzheimer's-related proteins involved in plaque and tangle formation associated with the disease [4].
In the study, participants receiving a higher dose of suvorexant saw a 10% to 15% drop in the amount of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in their cerebrospinal fluid, compared to people who received a placebo [2]. Similarly, the study found that the amount of amyloid protein dropped 10% to 20% in the cerebrospinal fluid of people receiving the high dose of suvorexant compared to those who had received a placebo [2].
Suvorexant is an orexin receptor antagonist, which means it blocks orexin neuropeptides that promote wakefulness [1]. This effect is likely due to improved sleep quality and normalization of sleep-wake cycles, which are implicated in the clearance of toxic proteins from the brain [2].
Orexin is a natural biomolecule that promotes wakefulness, and previous studies have linked orexin as a potential factor in the development of Alzheimer's, finding it is dysregulated in people with the disease [4]. By blocking orexin signaling, suvorexant may reduce the accumulation of these proteins, although more clinical research is needed to fully confirm its disease-modifying potential in Alzheimer's patients [2].
Identifying and treating sleep disorders is one of the most evidence-based ways to reduce the risk and impact of most dementias, including Alzheimer's disease [6]. The study's lead author, Dr. David Holtzman, hypothesizes a bi-directional relationship between sleep and Alzheimer's disease, stating that sleep deprivation leads to increased beta-amyloid protein, while Alzheimer's disease can also cause sleep disturbances [4].
Beta-amyloid forms when a larger protein called APP breaks down, and is chemically "stickier" than other parts of APP, causing it to clump together in the brain [5]. Higher levels of tau protein are also linked to Alzheimer's disease, and when a person has AD, the tau proteins can act abnormally, causing them to stick to each other, forming tangles inside neurons [5].
Dr. Holtzman and his team are currently conducting clinical trials to test if chronic administration of dual orexin receptor antagonists lowers Alzheimer biomarkers over longer periods of time [4]. Blocking orexin activation has been found to help prevent stress-induced memory issues, adding to the potential benefits of suvorexant beyond sleep improvement [1].
Alzheimer's disease affects about 32 million people globally, and the main cause is considered to be a buildup of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain [5]. The study's findings suggest that suvorexant may offer a novel preventative or therapeutic avenue for Alzheimer's disease-related sleep disturbances.
References:
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200914121520.htm
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2687-z
- https://www.wustl.edu/news/news-releases/2020/10/insomnia-drug-shows-promise-in-reducing-alzheimers-related-proteins-in-the-brain/
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201009145305.htm
- https://www.alzheimers.net/articles-research/what-is-tau-protein/
- https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/news/2020-09/sleepless-nights-linked-increased-risk-dementia
- The study suggests that suvorexant, a medication used for insomnia, may provide a novel preventative or therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease-related sleep disturbances, owing to its ability to reduce Alzheimer's-related proteins such as amyloid and tau, key proteins involved in plaque and tangle formation in neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
- As an orexin receptor antagonist, suvorexant's potential beneficial effects may not be limited to sleep improvement, as blocking orexin signaling could help reduce the accumulation of these proteins, which are implicated in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
- Identifying and treating sleep disorders, including Alzheimer's disease-related sleep disturbances, is crucial for reducing the risk and impact of various health-and-wellness issues, such as dementias like Alzheimer's disease, as well as other medical-conditions that may be exacerbated by poor sleep quality, such as narcolepsy.
