Sleep Does Not Help Brain Wash out Toxins: Study

London, 13 May (ONA) --- New research, published in Nature Neuroscience, challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding sleep and its purported role in brain detoxification.

Contrary to established beliefs, a study conducted on mice suggests that fluid clearance in the brain decreases significantly during sleep and under anesthesia.

Professor Nick Franks from Imperial College London, who co-led the study, acknowledges the initial allure of the theory linking sleep to detoxification, given its association with the rejuvenating effects of rest.

However, the study highlights a lack of direct evidence supporting the idea of heightened waste removal during sleep.

These findings prompt a reassessment of sleep's role in maintaining brain health and raise questions about the mechanisms underlying its restorative effects.

Moreover, the implications of this research extend to dementia studies, challenging the assumption that impaired toxin clearance due to poor sleep contributes to Alzheimer’s risk.

This study calls for a nuanced understanding of the relationship between sleep and brain function.

--- Ends/Thuraiya/KH