Article

A large body of evidence indicates that sleep favors memory
consolidation. This process would occur, mainly during
slow-wave sleep, by means of a dialogue between the hippocampus and neocortical
areas. Low levels of acetylcholine and cortisol are also needed to favor the
transfer of memory traces toward the neocortex, where they will be stored for the
long-term. The aim of this article is, first, to give an overview
of studies conducted in young healthy subjects and underpinning the hypothesis
that sleep is involved in memory consolidation. Then, we will investigate the
potential links between changes in sleep architecture and episodic memory
impairment in both aging and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we will see how these
results can affect clinical practice. CONCLUSION:
Sleep-dependent memory
consolidation is impaired both in aging and Alzheimer's disease. These findings
suggest the importance of taking into account sleep when assessing memory
function in patients.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : FRANCAIS