Scientists Now Know How Sleep Cleans Toxins From the BrainThe synchronized
brain waves of non-REM sleep may play a key role in preventing toxins from
accumulating in a person's brain.
https://www.wired.com/story/scientists-now-know-how-sleep-cleans-toxins-from-the-brain/?utm_source=twitter&utm_brand=wired-science&utm_medium=social&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_tw_sci
“When we sleep our brains travel through several phases, from a light slumber
to a deep sleep that feels like we’ve fallen unconscious, to rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep, when we’re more likely to have dreams. Lewis’ work looks at
non-REM sleep, that deep phase which generally happens earlier in the night and
which has already been associated with memory retention. One important 2013
study on mice showed that while the rodents slept, toxins like beta amyloid,
which can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, got swept away.”
.......
“What she discovered was that during non-REM sleep, large, slow waves of
cerebrospinal fluid were washing over the brain. The EEG readings helped show
why. During non-REM sleep, neurons start to synchronize, turning on and off at
the same time. “First you would see this electrical wave where all the neurons
would go quiet,” says Lewis. Because the neurons had all momentarily stopped
firing, they didn’t need as much oxygen. That meant less blood would flow to
the brain. But Lewis’s team also observed that cerebrospinal fluid would then
rush in, filling in the space left behind.”
........
“One big contribution of the paper is it helps show that the systems Nedergaard
has been studying in mice are present and hugely important for humans too.
“It’s telling you sleep is not just to relax,” says Nedergaard. “Sleep is
actually a very distinct function.” Neurons don't all turn off at the same time
when we're awake. So brain blood levels don't drop enough to allow substantial
waves of cerebrospinal fluid to circulate around the brain and clear out all
the metabolic byproducts that accumulate, like beta amyloid.”
........
73
Bob KQ2M
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