Sleep, Detox for the Brain

As if we needed another reason to get enough sleep! A hot-off-the-press study entitled, “β-Amyloid accumulation in the human brain after one night of sleep deprivation,” recently appeared in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). Although there have been previous studies demonstrating a higher β-Amyloid (Aβ) accumulation with chronic less sleep, and the increase of Aβ levels in cerebrospinal fluid when deep sleep is disrupted, this is the first study to document the effects of acute sleep deprivation on Aβ clearance. Researchers measured the Aβ burden (ABB) in 20 subjects using PET and F-florbetaben after one sleep-deprived night.

Unrelated to the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (APOE genotype), a significant increase in Aβ burden was found in both the right hippocampus and thalamus. Not only was the baseline ABB inversely associated with the number of sleep hours, worsening mood was also directly correlated to the lack of sleep (not surprising).

Because Beta-amyloid (Aβ) is considered a waste product of the brain, its accumulation may have detrimental effects and implications with neurodegeneration. For a deeper dive into the role of brain barriers in fluid movement in the central nervous system, one recent study published this year in Acta Neuropathologica explores the pathology that may result from failure of Aβ drainage from the brain.

Sleep is the best medicine, and, as it turns out, may hold the key to helping clear out and detoxify the brain.

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