Centella asiatica improves sleep quality and quantity in aged mice

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Abstract Age-related sleep disruption is common in older adults. Not only does the total amount of time spent in sleep decline, but also the number of arousals during sleep increases with age. As sleep is important for both memory consolidation and to prevent neurodegenerative pathology, this decline in sleep and/or sleep consolidation may underlie age-related cognitive decline and dementias. Furthermore, treatment of sleep disruption can improve quality of life. However, few interventions have successfully reversed age-related sleep decline. Extracts from the plant Centella asiatica have demonstrated neuroprotective effects in human, rodent, and fly models of aging and neurodegenerative diseases and is a promising intervention for dementias, yet little is known about how these extracts affect sleep patterns. Here, we administered chow containing Centella asiatica water extract (CAW) or control chow to male and female C57BL6/J mice aged 18 months. Effects on sleep composition were determined using electrodes that recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) signals. We found that chow containing CAW (1000 mg/kg/day) increased the duration of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and theta power during REM sleep in aged male mice as well as decreased the number of arousals during sleep observed in aged females, compared to age- and sex-matched controls. We conclude that CAW administered in food has a moderate, sex-dependent effect on sleep quantity and quality. Statement of Significance Sleep declines with age and may underline age-related cognitive changes. However, few interventions have successfully reversed age-related sleep and cognitive decline. This study found that an extract from the plant Centella asiatica increased REM sleep duration in aged male mice and decreased sleep fragmentation in aged female mice, compared to age- and sex-matched controls. Whether these moderate, sex-dependent effect sizes on sleep in aged mice are impactful enough to affect cognition, quality of life, and/or neurodegenerative pathology could be explored in future studies.

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