Scientists study many things. One thing they look at is how bad sleep can cause diseases in the brain. Diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s have been linked to bad sleep.
Alzheimer’s disease is becoming a big problem around the world as people are living longer. About one in four people with mild Alzheimer’s have trouble sleeping.
This number goes up to one in two people when the disease is very bad.
A team of scientists from a school called Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, did a study.
They found that people who don’t sleep well over a long time are at a higher risk of getting Alzheimer’s.
What Happens When You Don’t Sleep Well
When you sleep, your brain cleans up. It gets rid of things it doesn’t need anymore like a waste truck taking away trash.
But when you don’t sleep well, the waste truck doesn’t come. Things that should be thrown away start to pile up.
The scientists found out that not sleeping well stops the work of small cleaner cells in the brain. These cells are called microglia. Their job is to tidy up the brain during sleep.
They take away unwanted proteins called amyloids. If these proteins don’t get taken away, they stick together to form gooey plaques. These plaques are a sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Study and Its Findings
To understand more, the scientists did tests with mice. They wanted to see what happens when sleep patterns are messed up.
They found that without good sleep, the waste truck of the brain doesn’t do its job. Amyloids and other junk start to build up.
Dr. Samira Parhizkar, one of the scientists, said, “Not sleeping well over time is linked to brain problems in older people. It’s also a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.”
They found that sleep-deprived mice had more sticky plaques compared to mice that had normal sleep. Also, the cleaner cells in the brain reacted differently in sleep-deprived mice.
The Importance of Sleep for Brain Health
The findings of this study add to what we already know about sleep. Sleep is very important for our brain health. Without it, our brain can’t clean up properly, which could lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Scientists think that helping people sleep better could be a way to treat or slow down Alzheimer’s disease in the future.
So remember, good sleep is very important for your brain. Make sure you get enough every night!
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about diabetes drug that may also help prevent Alzheimer’s, and this stuff in your nose may trigger Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was published in Science Translational Medicine.
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