Missing Out on Deep Sleep Causes Alzheimer's Plaques to Build Up

A study published in Science Advances revealed that deep sleep helps the brain clear out potentially toxic beta amyloid plaques, and possibly curb the progression of Alzheimer's, reports Discover . The researchers drugged mice into deep sleep, then tracked cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as it flowed into the brain via electroencephalograph, recording blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates. Mice drugged with a combination of ketamine and xylazine exhibited the strongest deep sleep brain waves, which predicted CSF flow into the brain. The implication is that the glymphatic system is more active during the deepest sleep. Vital-sign analysis determined these mice also had the lowest heart rates. "Understanding how sleep can improve clearance of amyloid could have major impact on dementia treatment," suggested the University of Rochester Medical Center's Maiken Nedergaard.