The sleep-wake cycle regulates brain interstitial fluid tau in mice and CSF tau in humans

TLDR

Sleep deprivation is known to increase amyloid‑β and may also accelerate tau accumulation, indicating sleep protects the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic sleep deprivation rapidly elevates tau levels and promotes its pathological spread in mice and humans, underscoring sleep’s protective role against tau‑driven Alzheimer’s disease. Holth et al., Science, this issue p.

Abstract

Sleep may protect the brain from AD Two main proteins accumulate in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD), β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau. Aβ appears to instigate AD, but tau appears to drive brain damage and cognitive decline. Sleep deprivation is known to increase Aβ acutely and chronically. Now, Holth et al. show that chronic sleep deprivation strongly increases tau acutely over hours and also drives tau pathology spreading in the brains of mice and humans (see the Perspective by Noble and Spires-Jones). Thus, sleep appears to have a direct protective effect on a key protein that drives AD pathology. Science , this issue p. 880 ; see also p. 813