Study Finds Potential Link Between Common Sleeping Pill and Alzheimer’s, Other Disorders

January 10, 2025 TruthUSA

Zolpidem, often recognized by its brand name Ambien, might be associated with interruptions in the brain’s cleansing process during sleep, according to researchers from Denmark.

A recent study suggests that zolpidem, a frequently prescribed sleep medication, could interfere with the brain’s natural function of “cleansing” itself while asleep, which may elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other neurological issues.

In the research published in the journal Cell, Danish researchers provided deeper insights into the glymphatic system, a mechanism that facilitates the removal of harmful substances from the brain during sleep.

“The factors that regulate brain clearance during sleep remain unknown,” the abstract of their study stated. “We employed a variety of technologies and identified well-synchronized oscillations in norepinephrine, cerebral blood volume, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as the most significant predictors of glymphatic clearance during NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep.”

According to the researchers, the neurotransmitter norepinephrine plays a crucial role in this brain-cleaning process in the mice subjects observed in the study.

Norepinephrine, known as noradrenaline, functions both as a hormone and as a neurotransmitter. It conveys nerve signals to nerve cells, muscle cells, and gland cells, contributing to the body’s “fight-or-flight” response by elevating heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

Additionally, this molecule is involved in stabilizing memory, mood, and the sleep-wake cycle, as noted by health authorities.

During deep sleep, the brainstem releases norepinephrine approximately every 50 seconds, which leads to blood vessel contractions and “creates slow pulsations that facilitate rhythmic flow in the surrounding fluid, contributing to waste removal,” according to a statement from Cell released on January 8.

Following the examination of mice, the researchers noted that norepinephrine waves correlate with “variations in brain blood volume” and may generate “rhythmic pulsation in blood vessels.” Furthermore, the authors discovered that fluctuations in brain fluid flow occur in relation to changes in blood volume, indicating that blood vessels may actively transport brain fluid to eliminate waste from the organ.

Additionally, the researchers assessed how sleep medication affects the brain’s norepinephrine levels. They found that administering zolpidem, marketed as Ambien, resulted in a 50 percent reduction in norepinephrine waves during deep sleep phases compared to the control group.

While mice treated with zolpidem fell asleep more rapidly, their brain fluid transportation decreased by over 30 percent, suggesting that the medication could interfere with the norepinephrine-dependent waste-cleansing mechanism during sleep.

“With the increasing number of individuals using sleep medications, it is crucial to understand the impact on sleep health,” stated Natalie Hauglund, a researcher from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Oxford. “If individuals are not fully benefiting from sleep, they should be mindful of this to make informed choices.”

Although the study was conducted on mice, the researchers believe the results may be relevant to humans, who also possess a glymphatic system.

“Similar patterns of norepinephrine waves, blood flow dynamics, and brain fluid movement have been observed in humans,” they concluded. “These findings may shed light on how inadequate sleep may lead to neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.”

In addition to Ambien, prescription-only zolpidem is available under the brands Edluar, Zolpimist, Intermezzo, and Ambien CR. Estimates indicate that around 10 million prescriptions for this medication were dispensed in 2022, according to a tracking website.

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