Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's disease.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of melatonin as an adjunctive therapy for sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's disease patients.
Results Summary
Melatonin was found to be a commonly used adjunctive therapy for sleep disturbances in AD patients, with non-pharmacological interventions preferred first-line. The study suggests melatonin is effective but does not provide detailed efficacy metrics.
Population
Older patients with Alzheimer's disease experiencing sleep disturbances.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-pharmacological interventions | increase | sleep-related symptoms | AD patients | - | are generally preferred as the first-line approach to improve | #1 |
Trazodone | increase | sleep disturbances | AD patients | - | are commonly used as adjunctive therapies | #2 |
melatonin | increase | sleep disturbances | AD patients | - | are commonly used as adjunctive therapies | #3 |
Z-drugs including zopiclone and zolpidem | decrease | insomnia | patients with late-onset AD | - | are specifically employed to treat | #4 |
dual orexin receptor antagonists | increase | sleep onset and maintenance | AD patients | - | gained approval for improving | #5 |
INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders among the older population. Sleep disruption and circadian rhythm disorders often develop in AD patients, and many experience sleeping difficulties requiring pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. AREAS COVERED: This review appraised the evidence from clinical studies on various pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for sleep disturbances in AD patients and proposed an algorithm to manage sleep disturbances in this population of patients. EXPERT OPINION: Non-pharmacological interventions are generally preferred as the first-line approach to improve sleep-related symptoms in AD due to their favorable safety profile. However, when non-pharmacological interventions alone are insufficient, a range of pharmacological agents can be considered. Trazodone and melatonin are commonly used as adjunctive therapies, while Z-drugs including zopiclone and zolpidem are specifically employed to treat insomnia in patients with late-onset AD. Furthermore, a newer class of agents known as dual orexin receptor antagonists has emerged and gained approval for improving sleep onset and maintenance in AD patients.