[Sleep and dementia].

Aging is associated with changes in sleep structure and cerebral deposition of amyloid beta and tau proteins. Sleep disturbances precede the onset of dementia by years. Comorbid sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing, a family history of dementia and epigenetic factors can contribute to the development of dementia. This article explores the question of the interaction between sleep and dementia based on the existing literature. Alterations caused by slow wave sleep lead to changes in the glymphatic clearance of amyloid beta, tau proteins and other proteins. Transient and chronic sleep disorders cause disturbances in the brain areas responsible for cognition and behavior. Sleep-regulating brain areas are the first to be affected in the neurodegenerative process and accelerate the risk of dementia. Circadian age-related changes in amyloid beta and tau proteins affect the amount and depth of sleep and vice versa. Amyloid beta in cerebrospinal fluid shows an inverse correlation with sleep. Orexins modulate amyloid beta and sleep.