Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00821

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Sleep disturbances as risk factors for neurodegeneration later in life

Simmonds, E. ; Levine, K. S. ; Han, J. ; Iwaki, H. ; Koretsky, M. J. ; Kuznetsov, N. ; Faghri, F. ; Solsberg, C. W. ; Schuh, A. ; Jones, L. ; Bandres-Ciga, S. ; Blauwendraat, C. ; Singleton, A. ; Escott-Price, V. ; Leonard, H. L.DZNE* ; Nalls, M. A.

2025

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s44400-025-00008-0

Abstract: The relationship between sleep disorders and neurodegeneration is complex. Using >1 million electronic health records from Wales, UK, and Finland, we mined biobank data to identify relationships between sleep disorders and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Additionally, we investigated how sleep-attributed risk may compensate for lack of NDD genetic risk. We found that sleep disorders were associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and vascular dementia in three national biobanks (hazard ratios from 1.3 (PD) to 5.11 (dementia)). Sleep disorders imparted risk up to 15 years before NDD onset. Sleep factors were independent of AD and PD genetic risk, potentially compensating for low genetic risk in disease etiology. Poor sleep hygiene and sleep apnea have several available treatments that could potentially reduce the risk of neurodegeneration. Sleep-related risk factors are significantly and independently enriched in NDD patients with low genetic risk.

Note: Missing Journal: npj Dementia (npj Dement.) = 3005-1940 (import from CrossRef, Journals: pub.dzne.de)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Parkinson Genetics (AG Gasser)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

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