Reduced Slow-Wave Sleep Is Associated with High Cerebrospinal Fluid Aβ42 Levels in Cognitively Normal Elderly
Varga AW, Wohlleber ME, Giménez S, Romero S, Alonso JF, Ducca EL, Kam K, Lewis C et al.. Sleep, 2016-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Study objectives Emerging evidence suggests a role for sleep in contributing to the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Slow wave sleep (SWS) is the stage during which synaptic activity is minimal and clearance of neuronal metabolites is high, making it an ideal state to regulate levels of amyloid beta (Aβ). We thus aimed to examine relationships between concentrations of Aβ42 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and measures of SWS in cognitively normal elderly subjects. Methods Thirty-six subjects underwent a clinical and cognitive assessment, a structural MRI, a morning to early afternoon lumbar puncture, and nocturnal polysomnography. Correlations and linear regression analyses were used to assess for associations between CSF Aβ42 levels and measures of SWS controlling for potential confounders. Resulting models were compared to each other using ordinary least squared linear regression analysis. Additionally, the participant sample was dichotomized into "high" and "low" Aβ42 groups to compare SWS bout length using survival analyses. Results A significant inverse correlation was found between CSF Aβ42 levels, SWS duration and other SWS characteristics. Collectively, total SWA in the frontal lead was the best predictor of reduced CSF Aβ42 levels when controlling for age and ApoE status. Total sleep time, time spent in NREM1, NREM2, or REM sleep were not correlated with CSF Aβ42. Conclusions In cognitively normal elderly, reduced and fragmented SWS is associated with increases in CSF Aβ42, suggesting that disturbed sleep might drive an increase in soluble brain Aβ levels prior to amyloid deposition.
Key findings
- Resulting models were compared to each other using ordinary least squared linear regression analysis.
- Results A significant inverse correlation was found between CSF Aβ42 levels, SWS duration and other SWS characteristics.
- Conclusions In cognitively normal elderly, reduced and fragmented SWS is associated with increases in CSF Aβ42, suggesting that disturbed sleep might drive an increase in soluble brain Aβ levels prior to amyloid deposition.
Why it matters
In cognitively normal older adults, less slow-wave sleep was linked to higher levels of the amyloid-related protein Aβ42 in spinal fluid. This suggests disturbed sleep might raise soluble brain amyloid before plaques form, but it does not show that improving sleep prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
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 (Sleep) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | SLEEP: journal h-index 308 (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 | 2016 — 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 201 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.8 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 65 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ricardo S. Osorio: h-index 50 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | New York University: institution h-index 1,612 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 13 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27568802) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Varga, A. W., Wohlleber, M. E., Giménez, S., Romero, S., Alonso, J. F., Ducca, E. L., et al. (2016). Reduced Slow-Wave Sleep Is Associated with High Cerebrospinal Fluid Aβ42 Levels in Cognitively Normal Elderly. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.6240
Vancouver
Varga AW, Wohlleber ME, Giménez S, Romero S, Alonso JF, Ducca EL, et al. Reduced Slow-Wave Sleep Is Associated with High Cerebrospinal Fluid Aβ42 Levels in Cognitively Normal Elderly. Sleep. 2016. doi:10.5665/sleep.6240. PMID: 27568802.
BibTeX
@article{varga2016-27568802,
author = {Varga, A. W. and Wohlleber, M. E. and Giménez, S. and Romero, S. and Alonso, J. F. and Ducca, E. L. and Kam, K. and Lewis, C. and others},
title = {{Reduced Slow-Wave Sleep Is Associated with High Cerebrospinal Fluid Aβ42 Levels in Cognitively Normal Elderly}},
journal = {Sleep},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.5665/sleep.6240},
pmid = {27568802},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.6240}
}
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