Sleep disturbances and Alzheimers Disease
More than 70% of people with dementia are affected by Alzheimers disease (AD). Despite this high number, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms for disease progression remains very limited. However, recent studies have highlighted a link between sleep disturbances and Alzheimers disease.Sleep changes with normal aging. Over time, a decrease in time sleeping and a decrease in the quantity of NREM sleep can be observed, specifically in NREM SWS (less than 10% of the SWS is maintained). Older people also are more prone to insomnia or sleep apnea.In Alzheimers disease, in addition to cognitive decline and memory impairment, there are also significant sleep disturbances with modified sleep architecture. The latter may consist in sleep fragmentation, reduced sleep duration, insomnia, increased daytime napping, decreased quantity of some sleep stages, and a growing resemblance between some sleep stages (N1 and N2). More than 65% of people with Alzheimers disease have this type of sleep disturbance.One factor that could explain this change in sleep architecture is a change in circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep. A disruption of the circadian rhythm would generate sleep disturbances. Some studies show that people with AD have a delayed circadian rhythm, whereas in normal aging, an advanced circadian rhythm is present.In addition to these psychological symptoms, at a neurological level there are two main symptoms of Alzheimers disease. The first is an accumulation of beta-amyloid waste forming aggregate "plaques".
Ackerman syndrome or interstitial granulomatous dermatitis is a familial syndrome of fused molar roots with a single canal (taurodontism), hypotrichosis, full upper lip without a cupids bow, thickened and wide philtrum, and occasional juvenile glaucoma. It was described by James L. Ackerman, A. Leon Ackerman, and A. Bernard Ackerman. Signs and symptoms
Fused molar roots
Single root canal
Juvenile glaucoma
Sparse body hair
Distinct facial features: full upper lip, absence of cupids bow, thick philtrum
Syndactyly
Increased pigmentation of finger joints
Clinodactyly of fifth finger. Diagnosis
Treatment
References
External links

synd/133 at Who Named It?