Common Sleeping Pill Potentially Linked to Alzheimer’s, Other Disorders, Study Finds

Zolpidem, commonly sold under the brand name Ambien, may be linked to disruptions in the brain’s cleaning process during sleep, Danish researchers say.

A patient prepares to undergo an MRI, in a file photo. Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

A study published on Jan. 8 suggests that a common sleeping medication, zolpidem, commonly known by the brand name Ambien, may disrupt the brain’s ability to “cleanse” itself during sleep, potentially raising the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.

In research published in the journal Cell, Danish scientists said they have obtained more insight into the glymphatic system, which allows the brain to be flushed of toxic materials during sleep.