Just one sleepless night has been found to cause the build-up of a protein linked to the devastating condition.
研究发现，通宵熬夜一天就会引起与这种可怕疾病有关的一种蛋白质的增长。
A night without sleep increased the beta-amyloid protein in part of the brain.
通宵熬夜会增长大脑部分区域中的乙型淀粉样蛋白的含量。
People with mild memory loss have 21 per cent more beta-amyloid in their brains than healthy elderly people, while those with Alzheimer's disease have 43 per cent more beta-amyloid.
患有轻度记忆丧失症的人，其大脑中的乙型淀粉样蛋白的含量比健康老年人的要高21%，而那些患有阿尔茨海默病的人，其大脑中的乙型淀粉样蛋白的含量则要比健康的老年人高43%。
Sleep is vital in clearing away beta-amyloid, which can form clumps in the brain to block important pathways for memory.
睡眠对清除乙型淀粉样蛋白至关重要，而这种蛋白能在大脑中结块并阻塞记忆的重要通道。
Dr Ehsan Shokri-Kojori said: 'The increase in beta-amyloid in the brains of people who were sleep-deprived is likely to be a harmful process.
艾森·肖克里-科杰里博士表示：“睡眠不足的人大脑中增加乙型淀粉样蛋白的过程可能是有害的。
'A reasonable prediction based on the results would be that poorer sleep habits create a risk for Alzheimer's disease.'
“基于该结果的合理预测是，不良的睡眠习惯会造成罹患阿尔茨海默病的风险。”
Sleep may play an important role in a natural 'waste disposal' system that clears potentially harmful material including amyloid-beta out of the brain, scientists believe.
科学家相信，睡眠可能在人体正常的“废物处理”系统中发挥着重要的作用，它可能会清除大脑中乙型淀粉样蛋白等有害物质。
Dr David Reynolds said: 'The study suggests that one night of sleep deprivation can raise levels of the hallmark Alzheimer's protein amyloid, strengthening suggestions that sleep is important for limiting the build-up of this protein in the brain.'
大卫·雷诺兹博士表示：“研究表明，通宵熬夜一天可能会增加阿尔茨海默病标志性淀粉样蛋白的含量，这进一步表明睡眠对于抑制大脑中这种蛋白质的增长十分重要。”