Scientists have discovered how sleep cleanses the brain of toxins
Recent studies by Boston scientists have explained the mechanisms of brain cleansing of toxins. In their opinion, this is possible only during sleep.
A group of scientists led by Laura Lewis from Boston University conducted a study in which they found out how toxins are removed from the brain. The results made it possible to determine new ways of treating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, for example, Alzheimer's disease.
It is well known that during sleep, the brain goes through several stages and phases. The above studies related to the slow phase of sleep. In 2013, they conducted an experiment on mice. He showed that during sleep, toxins, such as amyloid beta, contributing to Alzheimer's disease, were destroyed.
Lure Lewis was curious why toxins are eliminated during sleep. She suspected that cerebrospinal fluid was involved in these processes, but the mechanism of starting the cleansing process was not understood. Therefore, in the laboratory, a special research technique was developed, during which several indicators were measured at once.
The study participants were asked to fall asleep in an MRI machine so that researchers could observe the phases of sleep. During sleep, the level of oxygen in the blood and in the brain was measured, and the amount of cerebrospinal fluid flowing into the brain and flowing back was recorded.
“We had the impression that each of these metrics was very important, but how they change during sleep and how they relate to each other remained unclear,” says Laura Lewis.
It turned out that waves of cerebrospinal fluid washed the brain during the slow phase of sleep. And the EEG readings showed why this is happening. It is in this phase that the neurons begin to synchronize, then turning on and off at the same time. This requires the consumption of large amounts of oxygen. It turns out that less blood enters the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid fills the vacant space.
A group of scientists led by Laura Lewis from Boston University conducted a study in which they found out how toxins are removed from the brain. The results made it possible to determine new ways of treating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, for example, Alzheimer's disease.
It is well known that during sleep, the brain goes through several stages and phases. The above studies related to the slow phase of sleep. In 2013, they conducted an experiment on mice. He showed that during sleep, toxins, such as amyloid beta, contributing to Alzheimer's disease, were destroyed.
Lure Lewis was curious why toxins are eliminated during sleep. She suspected that cerebrospinal fluid was involved in these processes, but the mechanism of starting the cleansing process was not understood. Therefore, in the laboratory, a special research technique was developed, during which several indicators were measured at once.
The study participants were asked to fall asleep in an MRI machine so that researchers could observe the phases of sleep. During sleep, the level of oxygen in the blood and in the brain was measured, and the amount of cerebrospinal fluid flowing into the brain and flowing back was recorded.
“We had the impression that each of these metrics was very important, but how they change during sleep and how they relate to each other remained unclear,” says Laura Lewis.
It turned out that waves of cerebrospinal fluid washed the brain during the slow phase of sleep. And the EEG readings showed why this is happening. It is in this phase that the neurons begin to synchronize, then turning on and off at the same time. This requires the consumption of large amounts of oxygen. It turns out that less blood enters the brain, and cerebrospinal fluid fills the vacant space.
