Study examines the relationship between sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease

Since sleep disorders affect the quality of life for many people, there is increasing research on the relationship between poor sleep quality and other medical conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 50 to 70 million adults in the United States suffer from some sort of sleep disorder.

A recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined whether there is a link between sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.

The study was conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Researchers found that high levels of protein amyloid, which makes up brain plaque that has been linked with cognitive and memory loss in Alzheimer’s patients, may also be associated with poor sleep quality. Researchers also concluded that sleep disturbances could be one of the earliest ways to detect the disease or identify patients at risk for the disease.

Such research underscores the importance of helping patients by diagnosing sleep disorders at an early stage. Usually, patients with sleep problems see their primary care physician first. Diagnosing and treating sleep disorders at an early stage may also aid in detecting other health problems.
Physicians can now refer patients directly to the McLaren Macomb Sleep Center. The staff will do all the paperwork, including authorizations, evaluations, prescriptions and DME referrals. Upon completion of a sleep evaluation, the staff will provide the physician with a timely report.

Established in 1989, the state-of-the-art facility is fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Located at the hospital, the center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. The staff includes credentialed sleep technologists who have special training in sleep monitoring techniques, as well as physicians who specialize in sleep medicine.

For patients with symptoms of a sleep disorder, an online sleep assessment is available by visiting www.mclaren.org/MacombSleep. To learn more about the services offered by the McLaren Macomb Sleep Center, call (586) 493-2544.