Alzheimer's breakthrough: 2 hrs of sleep restored without clearing brain plaques

Researchers at the University of Kentucky discovered that overactive brain immune cells, rather than amyloid plaques themselves, are responsible for sleep loss in Alzheimer's disease. By temporarily removing these immune cells in mice, scientists restored over two hours of sleep per day without clearing the plaques, suggesting a new treatment approach for one of Alzheimer's most disruptive symptoms. This finding challenges previous understanding of Alzheimer's-related sleep problems and points to inflammation from immune cells as a reversible culprit.