A recent study by an international team of scientists has shed new light on how our brains function during sleep. The research, published in the journal Cell, reveals that a molecule called norepinephrine plays a key role in clearing waste from the brain, known as the glymphatic system.
During deep sleep, the brainstem releases tiny waves of norepinephrine about once every 50 seconds. This triggers blood vessels to contract, generating slow pulsations that create a rhythmic flow in the surrounding fluid to carry waste away. The study’s findings suggest that this process is crucial for maintaining cognitive function and may help prevent neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers also found that sleeping pills like zolpidem can disrupt this process, reducing norepinephrine waves by 50% and dropping brain fluid transport into the brain by over 30%. This has significant implications for sleep medication users, who may not be getting the full benefits of restorative sleep.
The study’s senior author, Professor Maiken Nedergaard, notes that “it’s like turning on the dishwasher before you go to bed and waking up with a clean brain.” The researchers are now working to define restorative sleep based on glymphatic clearance and may develop new strategies for promoting healthy sleep patterns.
Source: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/deep-sleep-cleans-the-mind-like-a-dishwasher-turned-on-at-night-study-finds