Given that the etiology of Alzheimer's is tied to the very same proteins that must be cleared out during sleep, and that the requirements of sleep decrease with age, there seems to be a cyclical feedback loop at play here, insofar as healthy aging does not typically difficulties with R&R. (This example becomes more salient in the case of supergenarians who can rest and let little stress them a great deal.) Compound that with a likely immunodeficient response during sleep (where the brain is supposed to become more spongy) for these proteins to be cleared out and a poorly functioning blood-brain barrier, it would seem finding treatments that focus on these self-restorative responses would be most beneficial. Whereas treatments that temporarily boost processing capabilities will only somewhat delay the onset clearly shows that this is most likely the case.I wonder what study on general EEG signatures may reveal with respect to the efficiency with which the cleanup process can be facilitated thereby. Perhaps meditative practices could be demonstrated as a form of protein-cache clearing even when in a waking, albeit altered, state of consciousness.
joveian|8 years ago