Sleep, Orexin and Cognition

Front Neurol Neurosci. 2021;45:38-51. doi: 10.1159/000514960. Epub 2021 May 28.ABSTRACTOrexins regulate a wide variety of biological functions, most notably the sleep-wake cycle, reward and stress processing, alertness, vigilance, and cognitive functioning. Alterations of central and peripheral orexin levels are linked to conditions such as narcolepsy, anorexia nervosa, age-related cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative disease. Preliminary studies suggest that orexin mimetics can safely promote the wake signal via orexin agonism during the day and that orexin receptor antagonists can promote the sleep signal during the night. Thus, novel orexin therapies have the potential to either improve memory, cognition, and daytime performance directly or indirectly, through promotion of good sleep. The full scope of the therapeutic potential of orexin therapies remains to be elucidated.PMID:34052810 | DOI:10.1159/000514960
Source: Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research