Posted on 04/05/2025 9:20:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Scientists have long recognized the brain's need for energy, but new research has now illuminated how the brain's energy utilization significantly influences our sleep patterns.
The team discovered certain channels in the brain, called ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, act as energy sensors and play a pivotal role in maintaining stable sleep-wake cycles and facilitating smooth transitions between cycles.
"Our study shows that even small changes in energy usage can profoundly impact behavior," said Macauley.
These changes impact when we sleep, how we sleep and the overall quality of our sleep. The study identified a previously unknown function of KATP channels in sleep regulation.
"We discovered that KATP channels—key regulators linking metabolism and excitability—play a previously unrecognized role in sleep regulation," said Macauley.
The researchers also discovered that KATP channels on neurons have a daily rhythm.
"We did not know that KATP channels on neurons display a circadian rhythm of expression that suggests a role in regulating sleep," Macauley said. "Additionally, we discovered that KATP channels regulate lactate levels, a key metabolite for transitioning between sleep and wakefulness."
When these channels don't function properly, brain cells can't tell how much energy they need.
"When cells lack the ability to assess their own metabolic needs, essential processes like neurotransmitter synthesis become compromised, which in our study was linked to impaired cognition and increased anxiety," said Macauley.
"Most importantly, we found that KATP channels have a profound impact on sleep, particularly in enabling smooth transitions between wakefulness, restorative slow-wave sleep and REM sleep. This is particularly relevant for diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes and epilepsy, which are associated with both altered KATP-channel activity and sleep disturbances."
FDA-approved drugs targeting KATP channels already exist, so this research suggests a promising new therapeutic approach for restoring sleep.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
SAVING THIS.
Thanks ConservativeMind!
I don’t have Alzheimers, but have trouble falling asleep. Take melatonin drops and sometimes add a homeopathic sleep remedy..
Once asleep, my cat and I sleep ten hours every night. If I don’t get ten hours, I fall asleep at the table eating dinner. Now that the weather is warmer, I’m taking longer walks, hope that helps me sleep.
I wake up several times a night to go to the bathroom.
I don’t think that’s a katp problem.
Same with me.
Am awake right now, like every night- 3 am- will be ,ucky to get back to sleep before getting up at 7 am.
I noticed that if I have even a small glass of water before bed, I’m up a few times at night, but drinking a soda or milk or something before bedtime won’t cause me ok get up for some reason. Tea and deczf coffee will cause it too- I try not to have any water or tea after 7 pm- it seems to help some. Been drinking more blueberry smoothies at night instead of other drinks- that has helped too. Bought a ninja processor mixer thingie- makes the drinks pretty fast. We grow blueberries and freeze em for winter months. A.so mix in some carnation drink powder into the smoothy for added nutrients. It I beleive has cut down on bathroom trips during the night.
The circadian rhythm appears to be strongly influenced by lactate levels in the brain. There is increasing evidence for lactate acting as a signaling molecule in the brain to link metabolism, substrate availability, blood flow and neuronal activity.
This article ties right in with the other article you posted about exercise and diabetes.
During physical exercise or increased brain activity, lactate levels can increase significantly.
Elevated brain lactate levels have been reported in various brain disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Increased lactate levels may be associated with decreased brain pH and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Some studies suggest that lactate may have an etiological role in schizophrenia.
Cold plunges, or ice baths, can help flush out lactic acid and potentially boost ketone production, aiding in faster recovery and potentially improving metabolism.
Ditto. Problem isn’t falling asleep.
I get up =2x a night to pee, once in a while 4x, but have trouble going back to sleep.
Especially if it’s after 3am.....
“Am awake right now, like every night- 3 am- will be ,ucky to get back to sleep before getting up at 7 am.”
That’s exactly me. 3 AM. I don’t get it.
Scientists have long recognized the brain’s need for energy.
True but as you get older it’s interrupted by having to pee 2 or 3 times a night sometimes you even have to get out of bed.
Peeing at night sure causes sleep disruption problems. I wish there was a cure for that.
Snip...."Based on these results, we speculated that a more suitable way to preserve a healthy and functional pineal gland is either to retard its calcification or to recover the functions of the calcified gland. As mentioned, several pathological conditions might promote the premature pineal calcification. However, the environmental biohazards may also contribute to its development. One of them is fluoride. It was reported that the pineal gland in goosander concentrates fluoride which is a water pollutant [290]. The level of fluoride in the pineal gland of goosander was 5-fold higher than that it in the brain of the animal. The similar results were observed in the aged human pineal gland. In addition, the high level of fluoride in the human pineal gland is positively related to its calcium accumulation of the gland [291]. Thus, decrease in environmental fluoride pollution may be helpful in delaying or avoiding premature pineal calcification. It was hypothesized that the lack of calcium salt crystallization inhibitors, such as pyrophosphate and phytate, would favor calcification [292]. Studies indicated that the phytate content in brains of healthy animals was 10-fold higher than that in other tissues [293,294]. Increases in the availability of calcium salt crystallization inhibitors would tend to protect against pathological pineal calcification." ....snip....
Accumulating evidence indicates that pineal health is important to preserve the optimal physiological status of animals, including humans. The pineal gland is a unique organ which synthesizes melatonin as the signaling molecule of natural environmental changes and as a potent neuronal protective antioxidant. This gland undergoes calcification due to its anatomic structure (rich in vasculature and blood flow) and functions (melatonin production and CSF generation). The pineal has the highest calcification rate among all organs and tissues. Pineal calcification jeopardizes the melatonin synthetic capacity of this gland and is associated with a variety of neuronal diseases."
***I do not know what "goosender" is. I suspect its some sort of document wide autocorrect error? (Goose dander???)
Damn.
no... it is from “goose gender” part of LTBGG galaxy...
I have a simple method to fall asleep. I just listen to my audio books. I make sure to set it for just a few minutes or end of chapter so the entire book doesn’t run while I sleep. The next morning when I check on the book how much I remember listening before falling fast asleep it usually amazes me how little time elapses. Almost always LESS than five minutes. Sometimes just a couple of minutes.
they have audio with ‘soothign soudns’
that is suppsoed to calm the mind and help with sleep- i haven’t tried them yet- so can’t say if they help or not
I rather go with my audio books since when my mind concentrates on what is being narrated I VERY SOON drift off. Works EVERY TIME.
Oh, I should mention that my King Size bed is also completely wired up. My control lets me move the area under the head and/or feet to any elevation desired. In addition I can flip on a wide variety of vibration modes with various frequencies, patterns, and intensities. My favorite is Earthquake mode. They all also help me sleep.
thanks for the info- ill give it a try-
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