In Alzheimer's-model mice, removing most microglia restored more than two hours of sleep without clearing plaques

What the research found

Study (mice). Shannon L. Macauley, Nicholas J. Constantino, and colleagues at the University of Kentucky report in Alzheimer's & Dementia (2026; 22(6); DOI 10.1002/alz.71579). ScienceDaily ran it on 19 Oct 2026. Mice prone to amyloid plaques were compared with ordinary mice at 6 months, when plaques first appeared, and at 18 months. Sleep recordings used EEG and EMG. Plaque-related sleep loss showed up early and did not get worse by 18 months even though plaque more than doubled. Ordinary aging mainly cut REM sleep. The Alzheimer's model mainly cut NREM, the deeper restorative stage. After 14 days of the research compound Pexidartinib (PLX3397) in food, about 87 percent of microglia were gone and the plaque mice gained more than two hours of sleep a day, with longer NREM, while plaques stayed. Clearing immune cells is not a therapy for people. The lab is also looking at whether metformin or the seizure compound stiripentol might calm microglia by changing how those cells use energy. Those ideas are experimental. Do not start, stop, or change a clinician-directed regimen because of this mouse study. Not medical advice. Not a substitute for a prescribed medicine. Off-label use is clinician-only.

Evidence level: Animal study. Results in animals or cells often don't carry over to people.

Not medical advice. Not a substitute for a prescribed medicine. Off-label prescription use is clinician-only. VitaLonga does not diagnose, treat, or cure disease. Never start, stop, or replace a prescription with a supplement on the basis of a headline.

Read the original at University of Kentucky / Alzheimer's & Dementia