This Surprising Medication May Lower Alzheimer's Risk

A common medication may help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease—but researchers are still trying to figure out why, and there are several important to caveats to this potential brain health development.

The Common Medication That May Prevent Alzheimer’s

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that suvorexant, a drug prescribed for insomnia (often under the brand name Belsomra) reduces levels of the proteins hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid in the brain. These proteins are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The study was a small one of just 38 individuals, it should be noted, between the ages of 45 and 65 years old, and without any known cognitive impairment. The participants were divided into three groups: One that took a placebo, one that took 10 mg of suvorexant and one that took 20 mg of suvorexant.

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Participants who took 10 mg and placebos showed no significant differences in their amyloid or tau levels, but those who took 20 mg reduced their levels of amyloid between 10% to 20% and their hyperphosphorylated tau levels by 10% to 15%.

The 20 mg participants’ amyloid levels remained lower after 24 hours, while their tau levels increased back to their baselines.

Related: Sleep and Dementia Risk: What’s the Connection?

Why Might Suvorexant Lower Alzheimer’s Risk?

Researchers admitted they aren’t exactly sure yet what the connection is between suvorexant and amyloid and tau protein levels, nor their respective impacts on dementia and Alzheimer’s, but they do have some theories.

“Patients may attribute poor sleep to just getting older, but we often find that they have an underlying sleep disorder,” lead researcher Dr. Brendan Lucey, MD, an associate professor of neurology and director of Washington University’s Sleep Medicine Center, said in a statement. “Chronic poor sleep may put you at risk of Alzheimer’s dementia. A major goal of our research is to find out if treating the sleep problems before people have any signs of cognitive problems can slow or even stop the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.”

That said, to be clear, this is not yet a miracle cure.

Related: Sleep Apnea and Dementia Risk

“This study does not support using suvorexant and dual orexin receptor antagonists to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Lucey explained to Healthline, adding that it merely may “support or justify additional studies giving the drug for longer periods and to test that it prevents/delays Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.”

What’s more, suvorexant may have side effects at higher doses that may not be good for patients with cognitive decline. These can include reduced daytime alertness and poor motor coordination, Dr. Bruce Albala, Ph.D., adjunct professor of neurology, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences at University of California Irvine noted.

Related: 14 Ways to Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer’s, According to Neurologists

Is Suvorexant Used to Treat Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

As of now, suvorexant isn’t used to treat dementia or Alzheimer’s, but it is sometimes prescribed to dementia patients who have sleep disturbances. This is a common symptom of cognitive impairment, according to experts.

Dr. Meredith Bock, MD, a board-certified neurologist and the chief medical officer at Remo Health, previously explained to Parade, “Dementia can alter the brain’s natural sleep-wake cycle, which is the ‘internal clock’ that tells your body when to feel awake and when to go to sleep. When a person is living with dementia, their brain’s chemistry and networks change. For some people living with dementia, these changes can impact their body’s regulation of this natural rhythm.”

Dr. Bock adds that dementia patients may also experience anxiety and mood changes, noting, “These conditions can make it harder to relax, fall asleep or go back to sleep if a person with dementia wakes up at night.”

It may be cyclical as well: Scientific studies have previously found that trouble falling or staying asleep, poor sleep quality and not sleeping long enough can all increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. However, some other sleeping pills have been shown to potentially increase risk of dementia, so much more work needs to be done here—and you should absolutely talk to your own doctor before starting on any medications to help you sleep.

As such, you can at least rest a little easier knowing that researchers are working hard to find treatments and preventions that work.

Up Next:

Related: Talking to Your Doctor About This One Thing Could Significantly Decrease Dementia Risk

Sources

• Dr. Bruce Albala, Ph.D.
• Dr. Meredith Bock, MD
• Dr. Brendan Lucey, MD
• “Suvorexant Acutely Decreases Tau Phosphorylation and Aβ in the Human CNS.” Annals of Neurology.
• “Suvorexant tablets.” Cleveland Clinic.
• “Two types of drugs you may want to avoid for the sake of your brain.” Harvard Health Publishing.