What if something you do every night could hold important clues to Alzheimer’s disease? Cure Alzheimer’s Fund® (CureAlz®) researchers are exploring how sleep and circadian rhythms may shape new approaches to prevention and treatment.
CureAlz Resources
CureAlz scientists are investigating whether disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms are consequences of Alzheimer’s disease, contributing factors, or both. Understanding these relationships could reveal new opportunities to protect brain health. Explore our research and featured resources to learn more.
We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping. But what is sleep? Why do we do it? Learn more about the mystery of sleep — and about why scientists in the CureAlz Sleep & Circadian Rhythms Consortium are going deep on this question. Read more →
The brain uses about 20% of the body’s energy — more than any other organ — and all that activity creates waste. That’s where the glymphatic system comes in, helping clear waste from the brain while we sleep. When this system is disrupted, researchers think it may have important implications for brain health and Alzheimer’s disease. Read more → Watch our 1-minute explainer video →
Most adults get too little sleep, but consistent sleep deprivation has wide-ranging — and often unexpected — impacts on holistic health. Learn from CureAlz-funded experts about how to improve your “sleep hygiene” and what research can tell us about the connections between sleep disturbances and Alzheimer’s. Read more →
Our bodies are full of clocks that govern our daily cycles, called circadian rhythms. For our overall health, each clock needs to stay on schedule and in sync with the others. When they fall out of sync, they can contribute to chronic health problems, cognitive issues, and potentially even Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain. Read more →
CureAlz Researchers
In April 2026, CureAlz convened the Sleep & Circadian Rhythms Consortium to untangle the complex relationships between sleep, circadian rhythms, and Alzheimer’s disease through collaborative science. Meet the consortium →
What does the latest science tell us about sleep and Alzheimer’s disease? Hear directly from our researchers about emerging discoveries, what healthy sleep looks like, and steps you can take today. Watch the webinar →
Pictured top, left to right: Erin M. Gibson, PhD, Stanford University · Mary Harrington, PhD, Smith College · Yo-El Ju, MD, MSCI, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis · Eng Lo, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Pictured bottom, left to right: Shannon L. Macauley, PhD, University of Kentucky · Cameron McAlpine, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · Erik S. Musiek, MD, PhD, Consortium Chair, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
