Brain physiological pulsations are linked to sleep architecture and cognitive performance in older adults.

Rodolphe Nenert, Christina Mueller, Corina Catiul, Jennifer Pilkington, Pierre LeVan, Ayushe Sharma, Jerzy P Szaflarski, Amy W Amara

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine Departments of Neurology, USA. Electronic address: [email protected] of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine Departments of Neurology, USA. Electronic address: [email protected]. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

The glymphatic system facilitates efficient waste clearance in the brain through the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) along perivascular spaces. Animal studies have demonstrated that glymphatic efficiency declines with age, but evidence for such decline in humans is limited. We hypothesized that reduced glymphatic efficiency in older adults may be related to age-related worsening of sleep quality, potentially contributing to cognitive impairment.

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Research summary

Reduced glymphatic efficiency in older adults is linked to poorer sleep quality and cognitive impairment. This paper addresses a potential underlying mechanism of aging related to brain function and waste clearance, which is crucial for understanding cognitive decline in the elderly.

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