Researchers from the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) came to this conclusion after they found eliminating orexin in mice made them sleep longer and significantly slowed the production of brain plaques. Brain plaques are abnormal clusters of amyloid beta protein fragments that build up between nerve cells and a known hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists believe that slowing or stopping this build up could slow or stop the disease.
Orexin is a protein that stimulated wakefulness. It is produced by cells located in the hypothalamus - a small section of the brain that controls many functions, including sleep. Low levels of orexin are linked to narcolepsy, a condition marked by excessive sleepiness and frequent periods of daytime sleeping. Blocking orexin to increase sleep may be a way to reduce risk of Alzheimer's In previous studies, WUSTL…
