Research to slow or prevent neurodegenerative disease gives reason for optimism
Michael Howell, MD, a neurologist and division head of sleep medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Neurology, delivered a compelling presentation on the links between sleep and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, for UMRA’s January 2025 Living Well Workshop.
He emphasized that poor sleep disrupts the brain’s glymphatic system, which clears harmful proteins that accumulate and contribute to these conditions. He discussed specific warning signs—including dream enactment behavior, loss of the sense of smell, and unexplained constipation—that may become manifest decades before full-blown Parkinson’s symptoms appear. He highlighted the importance of treating sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and insomnia, to reduce long-term risks.
Howell shared optimism about ongoing research, particularly into sleep medications and weight-loss drugs, that could slow or prevent disease progression. He stressed the importance of proactive measures, such as regular sleep hygiene and addressing modifiable dementia risk factors including hearing loss and physical inactivity.
He concluded with an uplifting reminder to focus on waking hours: staying mentally and physically active during the day to promote restorative sleep at night. “When you wake up, how do you feel? Enjoy the day. Have breakfast,” he said.
Howell also invited those attending the Zoom webinar to join sleep-related studies at the University aimed at identifying early predictors of neurodegeneration and testing novel treatments.
Volunteers interested in contributing to this groundbreaking research should contact Research Coordinator Joyce Schmidt at [email protected] or 612-624-1456. There is a critical need for healthy control subjects.
—AI-generated audio transcription of the Zoom webinar was condensed by UMRA member Nevin Young, and edited for clarity and length
Can better sleep prevent Parkinson's and dementia?
Tue, January 21, 2025, at 11am
Michael Howell, MD
Professor and Division Director, Sleep Medicine
Department of Neurology, U of M Medical School
Event to be held via Zoom.
The 21st century has seen a litany of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia being reported. Michael Howell, MD, professor and division head of sleep medicine in the Department of Neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, is dedicated to developing novel strategies to improve brain function and health. For UMRA’s January 21, 2025, Living Well Workshop, he will discuss healthy sleep, brain function, and how sleep research at the University is helping to develop cures for neurodegenerative diseases.
Howell's research interests are focused on characterizing the relationship between sleep and neurological disorders, and determining whether these processes are reversible with current or experimental therapies. His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health for projects focused on sleep in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s, and the development of novel treatments for hypersomnias including narcolepsy and related conditions.
Opportunities to participate: Ongoing sleep-related studies at the University have openings for healthy volunteers between the ages of 40 and 75. If interested, please contact Joy Schmidt at 612-624-1456 or [email protected].
During his talk, Howell will offer reasons to be optimistic and less fatalistic when confronted with a dementia diagnosis. This optimism is related in large part to the improvement of 12 modifiable risk factors that Howell will review. He will also share some thoughts on drugs currently under investigation.
To learn more about brain function and sleep disorders in advance of the UMRA workshop, read “How to Get Your Partner to Stop Snoring” (Time magazine, August 7, 2024) and “Acting Out Dreams Predicts Parkinson’s and Other Brain Diseases” (Scientific American, February 1, 2023). Howell is quoted in both articles.
Register today for this free Zoom webinar at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21.
—Diane Young, UMRA president-elect and Program Committee chair