Sleep – The Brain Cleanse
New research has shown us why sleep is so important to our brain function. During sleep the brain flushes away potentially toxic buildup.
In a study published on Oct. 18, 2013 in Science, scientist injected a marker into the cerebral fluid of mice. When the mice were in the awake state nothing occurred, but when the mice were asleep, the fluid was flushed away. The study shows that the glial cells contract during sleep increasing the brain’s interstitial space and allowing unwanted fluid to be flushed away. They then return to normal size in the awake state.
This study is a breakthrough in neurological diseases linked to protein build-up in the brain such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The bottom line is if you want to stay healthy and keep your brain functioning at its best, get enough sleep.