Sleep is one of the most important things for a person’s health. Without sleep, people cannot function or think properly. I know that in order for me to feel refreshed and awake, I need a good night’s sleep of at least 7 hours. Sleeping is a time for rest, relaxation, and most importantly, clearing your mind. New studies have looked at what happens in the brain when a person is sleeping and found that sleep allows the brain to remove waste from the day before.

A study performed by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that the brain gets rid of waste while sleeping. This system of removing waste is referred to as the glymphatic system. This system is particularly active while sleeping and removes many things that could lead to diseases or disorders. The study conducted focused on rats’ brains and how they were able to remove toxins from the brain. Researchers found that the cells in the brain reduce in size, therefore making it easier for the toxins and waste to leave the brain (Wood).

Scientists were able to back up this idea by using imaging technology to see what’s happening in the rat’s brain. A rat’s brain is very similar to a human’s brain, therefore, both brains have similar functions. Since it was seen in the study on mice that the blood-brain barrier in the brain removes toxins and waste in mice, it has to be a very similar situation in humans (Wood). In conclusion, the takeaway message would be to get as much sleep as possible to feel refreshed, awaken, and detoxed.

Sources:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/10/20/mice-study-reveals-how-brain-takes-out-trash-during-sleep/60905.html

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