The Brain Self-Cleanses During Sleep: A Breakthrough in Neuroscience

 

Cleaning the brain while sleeping

 Qué hace tu cerebro mientras duermes? - UNAM Global

For years, we have understood sleep as a period of rest and recovery, but recent research reveals something even more fascinating: during sleep, our brain undergoes a deep cleansing process. This discovery not only highlights the importance of rest but also raises concerns about how modern lifestyles, including sleep medications, might interfere with this crucial function.

Scientists have identified the glymphatic system, the brain’s own waste management system, which activates during deep sleep to clear out toxins and accumulated debris. This process is essential for maintaining cognitive health and may play a key role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. However, the new study published in Cell warns that certain sleeping pills, particularly those from the benzodiazepine family, can disrupt this process by altering sleep structure.

This research brings to light an urgent question: are we prioritizing short-term solutions over long-term brain health? While sleep medications provide immediate relief, their interference with the glymphatic system suggests that relying on them could have unintended consequences. Instead of quick pharmaceutical fixes, perhaps the focus should shift to improving natural sleep quality through better sleep hygiene, stress management, and lifestyle adjustments.

Understanding that the brain requires deep, uninterrupted sleep to function properly challenges us to rethink our approach to rest. Sleep is not just about feeling refreshed—it is a critical biological function that safeguards our cognitive future. As science progresses, we must consider whether our modern habits are aligned with what our brains truly need.

 

The above is based on the text of:

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-02-21/the-brain-self-cleanses-during-sleep.html

By Jpsons.

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