Sleep isn’t just a nice rest for your grey matter. Far from it. It’s when your brain goes into housekeeping mode and cerebrospinal fluid mops away metabolic wastes that have accumulated during the day. 

This recent discovery may explain why lack of sleep has such a profound effect on our brains, making us forgetful, unable to concentrate, grumpy, accident-prone and clumsy. It may also open the door to preventing neurodegenerative illnesses linked to the accumulation of waste products in the brain, like the amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Read on to discover what could be blocking you from getting that recommended seven to nine hours of shut-eye – and how to conquer it.

 

© Prevention Australia
Tags:  health