Sleep disorders contribute to the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Life is the highest form of adaptation to the environment which is based on energy metabolism. To maintain life, the neuromuscular system must constantly interact with the environment. The striatal muscles are the main energy consumer and their access to energy fuel is mainly limited by the brain’s needs. In the state of wakefulness, the brain must continuously process streams of sensory signals and respond to them with motor actions. At the same time, the brain to be efficient must memorize the sensory-movement relationships. Brain memory networking requires additional energy allocation, and due to limited systemic energy resources, the processes of memorization are completed during the sleep phase when the inactive muscular system allows allocating the energy fuel to the brain functions such as memory trace formation and the removal of the activity-dependent waste products. Both physiological processes can be completed during sleep only, and consequently, chronic sleep disorder leads to pathological changes in brain functioning and escalation of neurodegenerative processes. Consequently, sleep disorders become the main cause of dementia which is the prodrome of Alzheimer’s disease.