Introduction:

Dementia in the elderly is one of the factors that most reduces the quality of life, together with the comorbidities that it entails, such as sleep disturbances. However, numerous studies point to a causal bidirectionality between these two factors. The aim of the study is to elaborate a systematic review of the available data base on the relationship between sleep disturbances and dementia.

Methodology:

The search sources were PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane, following the search strategy “((Dementia) OR (“ Alzheimer Disease “)) AND ((“ Sleep Wake Disorders “) OR (circadia *) OR (“ sleep disorders, intrinsic “) OR (“ Sleep Disorders “) OR (“Circadian Rhythm”) OR (“Circadian Clocks”) OR (“sleep disorders, circadian rhythm”) OR (“circadian dysregulation”))”and according to the inclusion / exclusion criteria, 35 articles were extracted.

Results:

The literature reviewed supports the feedback relationship between sleep disturbances and dementia. Amyloid-beta, characteristic of neurofibrillary plaques and tangles in Alzheimer disease, increases after sleep deprivation. Its accumulation is usually generated in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the main regulator of the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms.

Conclusions:

Sleep disturbances are possible predictors of AD and, for the most part, a modifiable factor of the severity and time of onset of the pathology. Both are interrelated in a mutual synergy.

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