The Association between Insomnia-Like Sleep Pattern Changes and Cognitive Dysfunction: Possible Mechanism and Therapeutic Strategy

The prevalence of sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction has overwhelmingly increased, with insomnia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common form. A multitude of studies have linked the alterations in sleep continuity or sleep architecture with cognitive impairment bilaterally, but the management of disrupted sleep patterns in preclinical AD could be more beneficial since there is no cure for AD. This review mainly focuses on the altered sleep patterns in insomnia, and summarizes potential pathways underlying the relationship between insomnia and cognitive impairment, aiming to establish certain sleep pattern changes as biomarkers for cognitive decline and explore potential therapeutic targets based on evidence from research advances.

Automated summary

Sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction are on the rise, with insomnia and Alzheimer's disease being the most common forms. Studies have shown a link between altered sleep patterns and cognitive impairment, with managing disrupted sleep patterns potentially beneficial in the absence of a cure for AD. This review focuses on exploring altered sleep patterns in insomnia as potential biomarkers for cognitive decline and investigating therapeutic targets based on research evidence.