🧠Lower slow wave sleep and REM sleep are associated with brain atrophy of AD-vulnerable regions
Getting enough deep (slow wave) and dream (REM) sleep might help protect your brain from the shrinkage seen in early Alzheimer’s.
Published In: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Date: June 2025
Authors: Cho, G. et al.
Link to Study: https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.11630
Summary
This study explored how sleep quality—specifically the amount of deep (slow wave) and REM (dream) sleep—relates to brain changes tied to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In 270 older adults, researchers found that people who had less deep and REM sleep earlier in life had more shrinkage in key brain areas known to be vulnerable in Alzheimer’s. These results suggest that sleep quality may influence brain aging and AD risk.
Key Takeaways
âś… Less deep (slow wave) sleep was linked to smaller volumes in the inferior parietal and cuneus regions of the brain.
âś… Less REM sleep was linked to smaller inferior parietal and precuneus regions.
✅ These brain regions are known to shrink early in Alzheimer’s disease.
âś… No link was found between sleep patterns and the presence of cerebral microbleeds.
✅ The effects were consistent regardless of a person’s genetic risk (APOE4 status) for Alzheimer’s.
Why It Matters for You
Improving sleep quality—especially ensuring you get enough deep and REM sleep—might be a simple and powerful way to help protect your brain as you age. Prioritizing restful sleep today could help delay or prevent cognitive decline later.
Citation
Cho, G., Mecca, A.P., Buxton, O.M., Liu, X., & Miner, B. (2025). Lower slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep are associated with brain atrophy of AD-vulnerable regions. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.11630