2026-06-04 アリゾナ大学
◆研究では長期間にわたり参加者の睡眠状態を追跡し、睡眠の質や規則性と脳健康指標との関係を分析した。その結果、①寝つきが悪い、②夜中に頻繁に目覚める、③睡眠の規則性が低い、という三つの睡眠習慣を持つ人は、将来的に認知機能低下や脳老化の兆候を示す可能性が高いことが判明した。これらの睡眠障害は、脳内の老廃物除去機能や神経回路の維持に悪影響を及ぼし、加齢に伴う神経変性プロセスを加速させる可能性があると考えられる。一方で、良質で規則的な睡眠は脳機能維持に重要な保護効果を持つことも示された。研究チームは、睡眠改善が将来的な認知症や神経変性疾患の予防につながる可能性を指摘しており、公衆衛生上も重要な知見として位置付けている。
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.arizona.edu/news/struggle-sleeping-these-three-common-sleep-habits-tied-signs-brain-aging-u-study-finds
- https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.71457
中高年成人における睡眠行動と白質高信号病変体積との関連性 Associations of sleep behaviors with white matter hyperintensity volume in middle-aged to older adults
Madeline Ally, Daniel H. Aslan, M. Katherine Sayre, Pradyumna K. Bharadwaj, Silvio Maltagliati, Matthew D. Grilli, Mark H. C. Lai, Rand R. Wilcox, Yann C. Klimentidis, David A. Raichlen, Gene E. Alexander
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Published: 05 May 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71457
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Poor sleep has been associated with elevated dementia risk, potentially related to its cerebrovascular consequences, measured by cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume.
METHODS
We examined self-reported sleep behaviors and prospective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) WMH volume, measured 8.8 ± 1.7 (mean ± SD) years later, in 23,377 healthy UK Biobank participants. Each sleep behavior was adjusted for demographic, imaging, and clinical covariates (Model 1), as well as vascular health and lifestyle factors (Model 2), and significant sleep behaviors were then mutually adjusted.
RESULTS
In Model 1, all poor sleep behaviors were associated with greater WMH volume. In Model 2, only sleep duration outside 7–9 h (β = 0.015, false discovery rate [FDR]p = 0.014), increased daytime napping (β = 0.018, FDRp = 0.008), and greater sleeplessness (β = 0.015, FDRp = 0.014) were associated with greater WMH volume, with each behavior demonstrating distinct contributions (0.004 ≤ FDRp’s ≤ 0.025).
DISCUSSION
Self-reported sleep behaviors were prospectively associated with greater WMH volume, suggesting a potential sleep-related pathway influencing vascular brain health and dementia risk.
Highlights
- Indicators of poor sleep are linked to greater WMH volume among healthy adults
- Sleep duration, napping, and sleeplessness impact brain aging beyond vascular risk
- Sleep may have a unique role in vascular brain health and dementia risk
