Baycrest

Researchers found that individuals with MCI who had reported changes in their sleep patterns, such as difficulty falling asleep or excessive napping during the day, had smaller brain regions in areas that are affected earlier in Alzheimer's disease, according to findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The affected areas were the hippocampus, which is important for creating new memories, and the amygdala, which is involved in regulating emotions. This is the first study to directly link sleep disturbances and changes to these brain regions in this population. These findings could help predict a person's risk for dementia earlier, and point towards the potential use of sleep interventions to prevent the onset of symptoms, says Dr. Linda Mah, senior author on the paper and a Clinician Scientist at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute. The study looked at the brain scans of 42 research participants with MCI who had no current or past history of depression or other psychiatric illnesses. The research was supported by Brain Canada, Health Canada, and the Chagnon family. The study is part of an ongoing clinical trial focused on preventing Alzheimer's disease among individuals with MCI and depression, both conditions linked to a greater risk of developing the neurodegenerative disorder. The trial is led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and includes Baycrest, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the University Health Network (UHN), and St. Michael's Hospital as partner sites. The sleeping habits of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, could be used as a sign of the disease's progression, according to a study led by researchers from Baycrest. SLEEP DISTURBANCE COULD BE A RISK FACTOR FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Dr. Linda Mah 2018–2019 YEAR IN REVIEW 11

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