The study of human sleep patterns dovetails with recent research in mice. Scientists used advanced imaging to determine that the brains of adult mice clear away beta-amyloid protein during sleep. This seems to offer a compelling biological answer to the age-old question, why do we sleep?
These researchers have found a network that drains toxic products from the brain during sleep and dubbed it the glymphatic system. This system appears to go into overdrive when mice fall asleep and is much less active when they are awake. Other neuroscientists suggest that this newfound glymphatic system may play an important role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
This fascinating research could trigger some anxiety in people who toss and turn night after night. To learn more about how to overcome insomnia without becoming dependent on sleeping pills, check our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.
