Losing sleep in the middle of the night is one of the most traumatizing things for any human being.An expert has a valid explanation on the effect of lacking enough sleep on your brain.Here is what he says.
People who sleep poorly are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease because the proteins that, in part cause it, build up in the brain after just one sleepless night, a new study has revealed.
Many studies have linked insufficient sleep with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, as well as at least 10 chronic diseases, but a new study from Washington university captured what happens to the brain on insomnia.
Sleep acts as a sort of sewage system for the brain, and without it, the mind gets clogged with all sorts of waste, including amyloid beta proteins. People generally predisposed to get Alzheimer’s have abnormally high levels of these proteins.
Alzheimer’s is a neurogenerative disease, meaning it comes on as brain cells die. Scientists believe that it causes muiti-fold genetics, environment and lifestyle factors all likely combine to determine the odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The disease, which begins with memory loss ,can also lead to debilitating cognitive declines and, eventually death. The disease affects about 5.5 million people in the United States. A number of people suffering and dying from the disease is only expected to climb as the population increases especially the baby boomers generation.
Beta-amyloid proteins like to bond to each other making them ‘’chemically sticky’’ these clumps drift around the membranes enclosing nerve cells, or form plaques on them. Both these forms, especially the floating clumps may interfere with or block signals being sent across synapses leading to the break down in memory and cognitive abilities in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Those with a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease have high levels of these proteins than other people, even before they develop the cognitive symptoms. Normal sleep should restore the brains disposal system, so that the proteins do not build up over time to clog neurons. If one sleepless night can lead to these significant increases, a lifetime of insufficient rest could well overcome the ability of the brain to catch up to beta-amyloid production, allowing the protein to build up and break down communications between parts of the brain.
