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- Title
L-DOPA increases slow-wave sleep duration and selectively modulates memory persistence in older adults.
- Authors
Isotalus, Hanna K.; Carr, Will J.; Blackman, Jonathan; Averill, George G.; Radtke, Oliver; Selwood, James; Williams, Rachel; Ford, Elizabeth; McCullagh, Liz; McErlane, James; O'Donnell, Cian; Durant, Claire; Bartsch, Ullrich; Jones, Matt W.; Muñoz-Neira, Carlos; Wearn, Alfie R.; Grogan, John P.; Coulthard, Elizabeth J.
- Abstract
Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover trial with healthy older adults (65-79 years, n = 35). Participants first learned a word list and were then administered long-acting L-DOPA (or placebo) before a full night of sleep. Before sleeping, a proportion of the words were re-exposed using a recognition test to strengthen memory. L-DOPA was active during sleep and the practice-recognition test, but not during initial learning. Results: The single dose of L-DOPA increased total slow-wave sleep duration by approximately 11% compared to placebo, while also increasing spindle amplitudes around slow oscillation peaks and around 1-4 Hz NREM spectral power. However, behaviourally, L-DOPA worsened memory of words presented only once compared to re-exposed words. The coupling of spindles to slow oscillation peaks correlated with these differential effects on weaker and stronger memories. To gauge whether L-DOPA affects encoding or retrieval of information in addition to consolidation, we conducted a second experiment targeting L-DOPA only to initial encoding or retrieval and found no behavioural effects. Discussion: Our results demonstrate that L-DOPA augments slow wave sleep in elderly, perhaps tuning coordinated network activity and impacting the selection of information for long-term storage. The pharmaceutical modification of slowwave sleep and long-term memory may have clinical implications.
- Subjects
SLEEP duration; LONG-term memory; DOPA; OLDER people; CROSSOVER trials
- Publication
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 2024, p1
- ISSN
1662-5153
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1096720