Mechanisms of sleep fragmentation: overexcited neurons

Scientists have found that neurons in the lateral hypothalamus play a key role in sleep deprivation in older mice

For many older adults, a good night's sleep is elusive

Fortunately, relief may be just around the corner

The findings could pave the way for new drug treatments for age-related sleep problems in humans, said the study's senior author, Luis de Lecea, Ph.

"Together with nutrition, exercise and relaxation, sleep is an essential fourth pillar of healthy living, and sleep disruption is strongly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders," Lecea said

Dr.

Researchers at Stanford University compared sleep and wakefulness patterns in young mice (3-5 months old) and adult mice (18-22 months old) and found that the hypocretin neurons in the hypothalamus were markedly absent in the aged mice, while the The sleep pattern is fragmented

Both groups of mice were implanted with electrodes that measure brain and muscle activity to monitor their waking and sleeping states, including non-rapid eye movement (NREM), or deep restful sleep; and rapid eye movement sleep, when produce vivid dreams

Hyperexcitable neurons in aged mice

To understand why older mice rested less, neuroscientists assessed hypothalamic secretin neurons

When the researchers analyzed brain tissue from young and old mice, they found that the old mice had nearly 38 percent fewer hypocretin neurons than the young mice

Sleep disruption is closely associated with neuropsychiatric disorders

Using optogenetic techniques developed at Stanford University, the scientists found that the remaining hypocretin neurons in older mice were more likely to be activated to induce and maintain wakefulness

"A problem with the braking system of aged hypocretin neurons makes it easier for them to signal more frequently, disrupting sleep," Li said, explaining that aged hypocretin neurons show impaired repolarization sizing current

The neuroscientists next turned to molecular approaches and determined that selectively disrupting KCNQ2/3 channels could destabilize sleep in young mice

The ability to modulate sleep patterns through this targeted pharmacology could lead to the development of new drug treatments for people with age-related sleep disorders, Lecea said

The results of this study support the hypothesis that arousal circuits, especially the hypothalamic secretin system, are more easily activated with age
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About half of men and women between the ages of 65 and 74 experience sleepless nights over and over again
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Meanwhile, an estimated 40%-70% of older adults have chronic sleep problems
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Studies have shown that healthy older adults who don't get a good night's sleep have a higher mortality rate, even after controlling for age, gender and other health problems
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Effects of sleep deprivation

Given that sleep deprivation affects people's ability to concentrate, retain, and retrieve memories, understanding its mechanisms is a critical step toward improving the health and well-being of older adults
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Research has found that disrupted sleep can lead to cognitive decline, falls, daytime sleepiness, Alzheimer's and a range of neurological and cardiovascular diseases
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According to research, sleep disruption and related health problems are also the leading cause of hospital admissions among older adults
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"Currently, sleep problems in older adults are treated with drugs that make them drowsy, and their effects may create more problems," Lecea said
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Our findings suggest that flupirtine, a A non-opioid pain reliever that can be optimized and used to treat insomnia and sleep fragmentation in older adults
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