研究:熬夜通宵的危害到底有多大?
Sleep deprivation may raise the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. Just one sleepless night has been found to cause the build-up of a protein linked to the devastating condition. A night without sleep increased the beta-amyloid protein in part of the brain. People with mild memory loss have 21 per cent more beta-amyloid in their brains than healthy elderly people, while those with Alzheimer's disease have 43 per cent more beta-amyloid. Sleep is vital in clearing away beta-amyloid, which can form clumps in the brain to block important pathways for memory. Dr Ehsan Shokri-Kojori said: 'The increase in beta-amyloid in the brains of people who were sleep-deprived is likely to be a harmful process. 'A reasonable prediction based on the results would be that poorer sleep habits create a risk for Alzheimer's disease.' Sleep may play an important role in a natural 'waste disposal' system that clears potentially harmful material including amyloid-beta out of the brain, scientists believe. Dr David Reynolds said: 'The study suggests that one night of sleep deprivation can raise levels of the hallmark Alzheimer's protein amyloid, strengthening suggestions that sleep is important for limiting the build-up of this protein in the brain.' |