Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Sleep disturbances are prevalent in patients with Alzheimer' disease (AD), being one of the most troubling symptoms during the progression of disease. However, little research has been made to determine if impaired sleep patterns appear years before AD diagnosis. This study tries to shed light on this issue by performing polysomnographic recordings in healthy elders and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We further investigated whether changes in sleep patterns parallel memory decline as well as its relationship with the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ɛ4 genotype. Results showed a significant shortening of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep together with increased fragmentations of slow-wave sleep in MCI patients relative to healthy elders. Interestingly, we further showed that reduction of REM sleep in MCI patients with ApoE ɛ4 was more noticeable than in ɛ4 non-carriers. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, changes in sleep patterns were not correlated with memory performance in MCI patients. Instead, increased REM sleep accompanied enhanced immediate recall in MCI ɛ4 non-carriers. Taken together, these results suggest that sleep disruptions are evident years before diagnosis of AD, which may have implications for early detection of dementia and/or therapeutic management of sleep complaints in MCI patients.
Key findings
- Results showed a significant shortening of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep together with increased fragmentations of slow-wave sleep in MCI patients relative to healthy elders.
- Interestingly, we further showed that reduction of REM sleep in MCI patients with ApoE ɛ4 was more noticeable than in ɛ4 non-carriers.
- Taken together, these results suggest that sleep disruptions are evident years before diagnosis of AD, which may have implications for early detection of dementia and/or therapeutic management of sleep complaints in MCI patients.
Why it matters
In this small sleep study, people with mild cognitive impairment had shorter REM sleep and more fragmented slow-wave sleep than healthy elders, and the REM reduction was more noticeable in APOE epsilon4 carriers. The findings suggest sleep changes can appear before Alzheimer diagnosis but do not show that treating sleep problems prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Current Alzheimer research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Current Alzheimer Research: journal h-index 119 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 114 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.1 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author José Luis Cantero: h-index 46 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidad Pablo de Olavide: institution h-index 258 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22211488) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hita-Yañez, E., Atienza, M., Gil-Neciga, E., & Cantero, J. L. (2012). Disturbed sleep patterns in elders with mild cognitive impairment: the role of memory decline and ApoE ε4 genotype. Current Alzheimer research. https://doi.org/10.2174/156720512800107609
Vancouver
Hita-Yañez E, Atienza M, Gil-Neciga E, Cantero JL. Disturbed sleep patterns in elders with mild cognitive impairment: the role of memory decline and ApoE ε4 genotype. Current Alzheimer research. 2012. doi:10.2174/156720512800107609. PMID: 22211488.
BibTeX
@article{hitayanez2012-22211488,
author = {Hita-Yañez, E. and Atienza, M. and Gil-Neciga, E. and Cantero, J. L.},
title = {{Disturbed sleep patterns in elders with mild cognitive impairment: the role of memory decline and ApoE ε4 genotype}},
journal = {Current Alzheimer research},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.2174/156720512800107609},
pmid = {22211488},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2174/156720512800107609}
}
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