Brainwashing was always a topic of debate in the past. But now new research has revealed that the brain removes all the toxins.
This removal of toxins occurs during our sleeping time. The time we sleep, cerebrospinal fluid flow increases. This fluid then washes away all the toxins from our brain. This process is helpful to reduce the chances of Alzheimer’s.
Researchers have found out in a study that brain cells of mice shrink during the sleeping hours. The harmful waste proteins collected in the brain gets washed out during that time.
A professor of neurosurgery, Dr. Maiken Nedergaard commented that the process is similar to a dishwasher. Being a professor at the University of Rochester, he is also an author of the study in Science.
The research paper justifies the need for sleep in animals. Nedergaard and his fellow scientists noticed that when cerebrospinal fluid is pumped into the brain, the fluid containing waste protein is removed. This process happens simultaneously and at a faster rate.
The circulation of the fluid becomes easier due to a decrease in brain cell size. When the animal wakes up, the cells go back to its original size. The research project is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Lack of prolonged sleep may result in the death of animals. Also, you might have noticed that fewer sleep cycles cause an obstacle in our thinking ability. The process of washing away the toxins requires energy. Therefore, sleep time is suitable to perform this function.
The study so far has been successful in animals like mice and baboons. Unfortunately, it’s still unclear in humans. In spite of that, the research helps study the human brain and its related diseases.
One of the toxins is beta-amyloid. It’s responsible for brain illness. Illness like Alzheimer’s is linked to sleep disorders. Other scientists commented that this recent study can help to solve other sleep-related studies.