Noradrenaline: The brain's nighttime cleansing conductor
Studies suggest that deep sleep literally cleanses the brain of toxins. It's important to remember that high-quality sleep doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with sleep aids. It's worth ensuring that you sleep both long enough and well enough without pharmacological help.
Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have discovered that deep sleep plays a crucial role in cleansing the brain of toxins. Research conducted on mice, published in the journal "Cell," indicates that during sleep the brain removes harmful substances, which is vital for its health.
The brain has a system called the glymphatic system, which uses fluid circulating in the brain and spinal cord to remove toxic proteins. The process can be likened to turning on a dishwasher before going to bed. This allows you to wake up with a "clean" brain. Prof. Maiken Nedergaard, the lead author of the study, emphasizes the significance of this mechanism.
The role of noradrenaline in brain cleansing
Researchers concentrated on the role of noradrenaline and its effect on blood flow during deep sleep. They found that noradrenaline initiates the rhythmic pulsing of blood vessels, which in turn affects the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Dr. Natalie Hauglund compares noradrenaline to the conductor of an orchestra, coordinating this process.
Scientists also examined the impact of the popular sleep aid, zolpidem, on the brain cleansing process. They discovered that waves of noradrenaline were 50% weaker in mice treated with this drug, reducing fluid transport to the brain by over 30%. While sleep aids can speed up falling asleep, they can worsen sleep quality. Dr. Hauglund emphasizes that more and more people are using sleep aids, making it essential to understand whether such sleep is healthy.
Although the research was conducted on mice, scientists believe the results may also apply to humans. Similar noradrenaline waves and blood flow patterns have been observed in humans. These findings may help to understand how poor sleep quality contributes to the development of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
