Sleep Position May Influence Risk for Neurodegenerative Diseases

A new study from the Mayo Clinic suggests that sleeping in the supine position may be a modifiable risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and mild cognitive impairment.

NAPS Investigator, Erik St. Louis, MD (Mayo Clinic), and a team of researchers found a higher incidence of supine sleep among patients with these disorders compared to those with normal cognition, potentially due to less efficient glymphatic clearance in the supine position. The study advocates for further research to confirm these findings and explore interventions that could limit supine sleep as a preventative measure against neurodegeneration.