Sleep Patterns May Signal Early Alzheimer's Risk | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 29, 2026 · 1m

Sleep disruptions may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s—new research shows middle-aged adults with higher genetic risk for the disease experience more frequent, brief awakenings even before memory issues appear. This pattern wasn’t seen in younger adults, suggesting sleep changes could signal vulnerability years before symptoms emerge. Scientists are now exploring whether tracking these micro-awakenings can help identify at-risk individuals, with focus on a key brain region called the locus coeruleus, one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s-linked proteins. While promising…