Time: 8:00 AM – 11:06 AM, March 17, 2025
Venue: Room C011
Presenter: Dr. Phạm Đức Toàn

As part of its monthly academic seminar series, the Faculty of Pharmacy – Ton Duc Thang University held its March 2025 session with a presentation titled: “Insufficient Sleep and Alzheimer’s Disease: Potential Approach for Therapeutic Treatment Methods,” delivered by Dr. Phạm Đức Toàn.

The presentation focused on the intricate relationship between sleep disorders and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—a topic that has gained increasing attention in the scientific community. Dr. Toàn outlined potential biological mechanisms linking chronic sleep deprivation with the development and worsening of AD in aging individuals.

Emphasizing a modern shift in therapeutic strategies, the report highlighted sleep disorder management as a potential early intervention for AD. By synthesizing recent research findings, the presentation provided a scientific rationale for the repurposing of sleep-related medications—particularly melatonin—as a potential treatment to slow disease progression in its preclinical phase.

The discussion that followed the presentation was highly engaging:

• Mr. Hoàng Quốc Tuấn inquired whether melatonin is currently included in treatment protocols for Alzheimer’s. Dr. Toàn clarified that melatonin is presently used to treat insomnia in AD patients, but not yet indicated for disease-modifying use in the preclinical phase.

• Regarding melatonin’s regulatory status in Vietnam, Dr. Toàn shared, based on discussions with faculty members, that melatonin is still classified as a dietary supplement. He emphasized that developing it into a therapeutic drug would mark a significant advancement in neuropharmacology.

• Dr. Đỗ Bích Hằng raised a question about the typical timeline for completing a review article. Dr. Toàn responded that writing usually takes about one month, excluding time for peer review and revisions.

In his conclusion, Dr. Toàn highlighted the importance of drug repurposing—specifically turning sleep medications like melatonin into early-stage treatments for Alzheimer’s. The presentation also connected this direction with non-invasive brain stimulation therapies, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a method previously studied by Dr. Nguyễn Phương Trâm (Faculty of Pharmacy) for early-stage AD treatment.

This seminar provided a multidisciplinary perspective, bridging neurology and pharmacology, and opened new avenues for future research initiatives at the Faculty of Pharmacy in the realm of Alzheimer’s disease.