Poor quality sleep could increase Alzheimer's risk, research suggests

Findings raise possibility repeated disruption of slow wave sleep could lead to a buildup of proteins linked to disease

Prolonged periods of poor sleep increase levels of proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease, research suggests, although quality, not quantity, of sleep is at the root of the issue.

While previous research has revealed that bad sleep can increase levels of these proteins, known as beta-amyloid and tau, it was unclear which aspect of shut-eye was behind the uptick.