Epoch HealthCommon Sleeping Pill Potentially Linked to Alzheimer’s, Other Disorders, Study Finds

A new study published in Cell reveals zolpidem (Ambien) may interfere with the brain’s glymphatic system during sleep, potentially affecting its ability to clear toxic materials. Danish researchers found the drug reduced norepinephrine waves by 50% and decreased brain fluid transportation by 30% in mice studies, suggesting implications for neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.

Key Points:

• Norepinephrine release occurs every 50 seconds during deep sleep, facilitating vessel contractions that help remove waste from the brain
• Mice given zolpidem showed 50% lower norepinephrine waves during deep sleep compared to control group
• Brain fluid transportation decreased by more than 30% in mice treated with zolpidem, despite faster sleep onset
• Researchers identified synchronized oscillations in norepinephrine, cerebral blood volume, and cerebrospinal fluid as key predictors of glymphatic clearance
• Findings may translate to humans due to shared glymphatic system characteristics and similar norepinephrine wave patterns

“More and more people are using sleep medication, and it’s really important to know if that’s healthy sleep.”
– Natalie Hauglund, University of Copenhagen/University of Oxford

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