Can Sleep Studies Give Clues for Alzheimer's Research?

One of the most important ways to create a better memory is to get the proper amount and type of sleep. Many lifestyle choices have the potential to affect your health and cognitive abilities. The rhythms of the day and sleep cycles have a tremendous value in creating a better memory and overall wellness.

In recent years, various researchers have found that a habit that most of us take for granted… sleep may affect our memory in noticeable ways! There is a part of the brain that is important in creating long term memory called the entorhinal cortex

In a recent study from the journal Nature Neuroscience, UCLA neurophysics professor Mayank R. Mehta found that a brain area called the entorhinal cortex plays a key role in memory consolidation during sleep. Memory consolidation is the process that stores and reinforces long-term memories so you can draw on them later.

Sleep studies may also provide direction for Alzheimer’s research. Not only can Mehta’s research help us understand how we strengthen memories during sleep, but it may also provide clues for investigating Alzheimer's disease, which begins in the entorhinal cortex and often involves impaired sleep.

Of course, the habit patterns of humans differ greatly and further research will be needed to truly understand the entorhinal cortex's role in memory consolidation. Functional MRIs are now providing information as to how the brain fires when asked memory questions.

This study reminds us of the complex ties between lifestyle habits and cognition, it also reaffirms the importance of getting enough sleep each night. With many new studies continuing to find evidence that our brains are hard at work during the night, most scientists agree that getting a decent night’s rest is a good idea.

Better Brain Tip of the Week:

Go to bed at the same time and rise at the same time for 7 days straight to create a healthy habit pattern. Lights out and in a state of relaxation at or before 10 o’clock p.m. is ideal for the process of syncing your sleep with the rhythms of the day.