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Insomnia, early and late rising are associated with small hippocampal volume and large white matter hyperintensity burden
Clémence Cavaillès, Sylvaine Artéro, Jerome Joseph Maller, Isabelle Jaussent, Yves A Dauvilliers. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy, 2025-04-05
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plain-language summary
Participants' median age was 70.7 years (Q1-Q3 = 67.8-74.0), with 52.4% being women. Early (≤ 6 am; odds ratio (OR) = 2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17;3.53) and late (> 8 am; OR = 2.14, 95%CI = 1.33;3.43) rising times were associated with low hippocampal volume. Early rising time (OR = 2.06, 95%CI = 1.24;3.43) and insomnia symptoms (OR = 1.84, 95%CI = 1.18;2.86 for 1 symptom, OR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.18;3.09 for 2-3 symptoms) were associated with large WMH volume, whereas late bedtime (≥ 11 pm; OR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.39;0.80) was associated with low WMH volume. Based on PSG data, higher rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep percentage (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.50;0.96) was associated with low WMH volume, with similar trends for long sleep bouts duration, N3 and REM sleep durations (p = 0.05 to 0.07). Conversely, higher N2 sleep percentage (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.09;2.62), longer NREM sleep bouts (OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.02;2.09), and higher periodic leg movements index (OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.02;2.26) were associated with large WMH volume. However, no PSG parameter associations remained after false discovery rate correction. Distinct associations between sleep characteristics and hippocampal and WMH volumes were observed, highlighting the important relationships between sleep, sleep timing and brain structure.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
This is a cross-sectional study of 678 participants. In this cross-sectional study, insomnia symptoms and early rising were associated with larger white matter hyperintensity volume and smaller hippocampal volume. Reported effect size: 52.4%; OR = 2.14; OR = 2.06.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Cavaillès, C., Artéro, S., Maller, J. J., Jaussent, I., & Dauvilliers, Y. A. (2025). Insomnia, early and late rising are associated with small hippocampal volume and large white matter hyperintensity burden. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01721-x
Vancouver
Cavaillès C, Artéro S, Maller JJ, Jaussent I, Dauvilliers YA. Insomnia, early and late rising are associated with small hippocampal volume and large white matter hyperintensity burden. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy. 2025. doi:10.1186/s13195-025-01721-x. PMID: 40188123.
BibTeX
@article{cavailles2025-40188123,
author = {Cavaillès, Clémence and Artéro, Sylvaine and Maller, Jerome Joseph and Jaussent, Isabelle and Dauvilliers, Yves A},
title = {{Insomnia, early and late rising are associated with small hippocampal volume and large white matter hyperintensity burden}},
journal = {Alzheimer s Research \& Therapy},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-025-01721-x},
pmid = {40188123},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01721-x}
}
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.
Key findings
- Participants' median age was 70.7 years (Q1-Q3 = 67.8-74.0), with 52.4% being women.
- Early (≤ 6 am; odds ratio (OR) = 2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17;3.53) and late (> 8 am; OR = 2.14, 95%CI = 1.33;3.43) rising times were associated with low hippocampal volume.
- Early rising time (OR = 2.06, 95%CI = 1.24;3.43) and insomnia symptoms (OR = 1.84, 95%CI = 1.18;2.86 for 1 symptom, OR = 1.91, 95%CI = 1.18;3.09 for 2-3 symptoms) were associated with large WMH volume, whereas late bedtime (≥ 11 pm; OR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.39;0.80) was associated with low WMH volume.
- Based on PSG data, higher rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep percentage (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.50;0.96) was associated with low WMH volume, with similar trends for long sleep bouts duration, N3 and REM sleep durations (p = 0.05 to 0.07).
- Conversely, higher N2 sleep percentage (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.09;2.62), longer NREM sleep bouts (OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.02;2.09), and higher periodic leg movements index (OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.02;2.26) were associated with large WMH volume.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study, insomnia symptoms and early rising were associated with larger white matter hyperintensity volume and smaller hippocampal volume. Because it is cross-sectional, it cannot show whether sleep problems cause these brain changes or whether treating sleep would help.
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants678
- Effect size52.4%; OR = 2.14; OR = 2.06
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s Research & Therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s Research & Therapy: journal h-index 146 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 678 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Yves A Dauvilliers: h-index 105 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique: institution h-index 2,511 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40188123) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13195-025-01721-x
- PubMed: 40188123
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s Research & Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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