The sleep aid Ambien may inadvertently increase the risk of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease by allowing toxic proteins to accumulate in the brain, according to a recent study.
Research published on January 8 in the journal Cell revealed that zolpidem, the active ingredient in Ambien, suppresses a natural system responsible for clearing protein waste during dreamless sleep. This system, known as the glymphatic system, plays a vital role in removing harmful proteins like tau and amyloid, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
The study highlights potential risks associated with certain sleep medications. Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, co-director of the University of Rochester Center for Translational Neuromedicine and senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of natural sleep for brain health. “The study draws attention to the potentially harmful effects of certain pharmacological sleep aids on brain health, underscoring the need to preserve natural sleep architecture for optimal brain function,” Nedergaard said.
Researchers used brain imaging and electrical recordings in lab mice to study how the glymphatic system operates during deep sleep. They found that norepinephrine, a brain chemical linked to stress and arousal, drives rhythmic constrictions of blood vessels independent of the heartbeat. These oscillations power the glymphatic system, enabling it to clear away toxic proteins.
The study also discovered that zolpidem disrupts these norepinephrine-driven oscillations, impairing the glymphatic system’s ability to remove waste. Researchers caution that further studies are needed to assess whether long-term use of zolpidem and similar sleep aids could increase the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
