Free Republic

Poor sleep among older adults is linked to disruptions in the brain's "waste removal system," according to researchers. A recent study offers valuable insight into how sleep quality impacts brain functioning. Many studies have linked poor sleep with a decline in brain functioning. Professor Lee's team focused on the glial-lymphatic (glymphatic) system, a fluid transport pathway that plays a vital role in clearing waste from the brain. The system's efficiency is a critical determinant of brain health, particularly in aging populations. Professor Lee and her team sought to understand the glymphatic-brain relationship in poor sleepers, which underlies memory decline. Dysfunction...

The glymphatic system is the brain's self-cleaning mechanism. It wasn't discovered until 2012. The glymphatic system is tied to the circadian system and sleep architecture, and both are implicated in the pathophysiology of concussions. I'll explain the glymphatic system's nature, how its dysfunction contributes to concussion pathology, and the crucial role of circadian therapy in mitigating this impact. The glymphatic system was nicknamed "the garbage truck of the brain" by its discoverer. Its fundamental role is to remove waste products from the brain. Approximately 80–90% of glymphatic clearance occurs during "deep sleep." As sleep transitions from deep sleep into the...