Good sleep patterns are vital as the brain flushes those toxins while asleep, and disruptions can cause higher risks of dementia
Scientists have discovered that poor sleep can limit the brain's ability to clear toxins, raising the risk of dementia.
A study -- published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association -- analyzed MRI scans from 40,000 adults in the UK Biobank, focusing on the glymphatic system. In a healthy brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced and flows through the glymphatic system, collecting waste and toxins and clearing them out of the brain.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that reduced sleep can negatively impact how well the glymphatic system works. Good sleep patterns are vital as the brain flushes those toxins while asleep, and disruptions could subsequently increase the risk of dementia later in life.
Dementia is the umbrella term for the "impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities," says the CDC, which points out that dementia is not a part of "normal aging." Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.
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"We already have evidence that small vessel disease in the brain accelerates diseases like Alzheimer's, and now we have a likely explanation why," said study author Hui Hong.
"Disruption to the glymphatic system is likely to impair our ability to clear the brain of the amyloid and tau that causes Alzheimer's disease."
Additionally, the study found that impaired glymphatic function can also be associated with high blood pressure.
"At least a quarter of all dementia risk is accounted for by common risk factors like blood pressure and smoking," said Hugh Markus, a Cambridge professor. "If these impair glymphatic function, then we can intervene. Treating high blood pressure or encouraging people to stop smoking would be an achievable way to help the glymphatic system work better."