Insomnia Severity Is Associated with a Decreased Volume of the CA3/Dentate Gyrus Hippocampal Subfield

Abstract

Background-Prolonged disruption of sleep in animal studies is associated with decreased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Our objective was to determine if insomnia severity in a sample of PTSD and controls was associated with decreased volume in the CA3/dentate hippocampal subfield.

A review of lifestyle factors that contribute to important pathways associated with major depression: Diet, sleep and exercise

“…Clinical studies have also reported a reduction in hippocampal volume in primary insomnia and sleep apnoea (Morrell et al, 2003, Riemann et al, 2007. Insomnia severity in a sample of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder was also associated with decreased volume in the CA3/dentate hippocampal subfield (Neylan et al, 2010).…”

Trauma-induced insomnia: A novel model for trauma and sleep research

“…Importantly, insomnia was more strongly associated with hippocampal volume than total PTSD symptom severity, reinforcing insomnia as a core posttraumatic feature important to developing and perpetuating full blown PTSD. An important implication of this study is that successful treatment of insomnia early posttrauma may prevent hippocampal degeneration, leading to increased hippocampal volume and potentially impeding PTSD development [110].…”

Self-reported sleep disturbance and incidence of dementia in ageing men

“…However, the results from structural brain imaging studies among individuals suffering from insomnia are somewhat conflicting. A reduction in the hippocampal volume50 51 and orbitofrontal and parietal grey matter52 has been observed, or brain volume changes have not been found 53 54. Poor sleep and sleep loss are proposed to induce neuroinflammation55 and disruptions in the production and development of new neurons 56.…”