Sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, fueling brain function, immune resilience, and heart health. Yet, disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea not only disrupt quality of life but may also pave the way for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
Groundbreaking research published in Cell reveals how tightly synchronized oscillations in norepinephrine, cerebral blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid during non-REM sleep power the brain’s glymphatic system—responsible for clearing toxic protein waste, including amyloid and tau.
This study, led by Maiken Nedergaard of the University of Rochester, sheds light on the restorative processes of sleep and raises critical questions about how common sleep aids might interfere with the brain’s nightly cleanup. Read the full article here.
About the Author: Gary Skole
