Why Does the Brain Need Sleep to Function Properly?

Sleep helps in cleansing the brain, it is also known to be crucial in consolidating memories from the day before, but how it does this is unclear.

Emerging research suggests that fluid volume swells during sleep, helping flush waste products such as amyloid-Î² that can precipitate disease.

A new study sheds more light on this process, finding that fluctuations in the extracellular ion composition drive those crucial fluid volume changes. In mice, manipulating the ion mix alone could wake up sleeping animals or cause active ones to nod off. Other recent papers tied insufficient flow of brain fluid more closely to sleep and disease. Alzforum explores this research in part 1 of this series.

Untreated Sleep Apnea May Be Related to Skin Cancer
Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, develops in melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color.

‘Sleep helps in cleansing the brain, it is also known to be crucial in consolidating memories from the day before, but how it does this is unclear.’

Besides cleansing the brain, sleep is known to be crucial in consolidating memories from the day before, but how it does this is unclear. New research reports an essential role for a protein synthesis pathway and for specific electrical rhythms during rapid eye movement sleep, as Alzforum describes in part 2 of this series.

About Us
Founded in 1996, Alzforum is a news and information resource website dedicated to helping researchers accelerate discovery and advance development of diagnostics and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Our site expands the traditional mode of scientific communication by reporting the latest scientific findings and industry news with insightful analysis that puts breaking news into context. We advance research by developing open-access databases of curated, highly specific scientific content to visualize and facilitate the exploration of complex data. Alzforum is a platform to disseminate the evolving knowledge around basic, translational, and clinical research in the field of AD.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increases Risk for Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Event
Obstructive sleep apnea is highly prevalent and has a prognostic implication in patients with coronary artery disease.

Alzforum is supported by a team with backgrounds in science, journalism, information technology, design, and data science. Together with a distinguished Scientific Advisory Board, and the active participation of a global network of scientists, we strive to produce unbiased content to a rigorous editorial standard.

Alzforum is operated by the Biomedical Research Forum (BRF) LLC. BRF is a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC. FMR LLC and its affiliates invest broadly in many companies, including life sciences and pharmaceutical companies. Alzforum does not endorse any specific product or scientific approach.

Treating Sleep Apnea Could Reduce Rapid Response Events
Patients at high risk for sleep apnea experience more rapid response events during their hospital stay.

Source-Newswise

Videogame Addiction in Children and Teens Causes Sleep Deprivation
Some children and teens develop serious addiction-like symptoms to video games, which can have an impact on sleep habits, obesity, and cardio-metabolic health.