At the end of October, researchers at Boston University published a study on sleep, documenting an astounding phenomenon that presents a missing link in our understanding of how deep sleep impacts the brain.
“Deep Sleep,” in neuroscience, refers to non-REM or non-rapid eye movement sleep, which occurs in the first couple of hours of sleep. It’s already known that in this particular cycle, electrical signaling in the brain falls into a rhythm known as the “slow wave.” In the slow wave, neurons synchronize, initially firing signals together, then all falling silent. Blood flows out of the brain during this part of the sleep cycle when neurons are all dormant, and don’t need as much oxygen.
Here’s the fascinating brand-new discovery: during this point in the sleep cycle, a large, slow wave of cerebrospinal fluid washes over the whole brain. This cerebrospinal fluid wave flushes away toxic metabolic by-products of the brain that accumulate throughout the day. While cerebrospinal fluid is always present, detoxifying the brain and spinal cord, it’s only during non-REM “deep sleep” that the flow of blood out of the brain allows enough room for larger amounts cerebrospinal fluid to thoroughly cleanse toxins such as beta-amyloid. Since this only happens during a period of deep sleep, the already established link between Alzheimer’s and chronic poor sleep quality is even more clear.
The study suggests that prioritizing sleep quality is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease. Many people turn to holistic practices and medicine to help with sleep, because insomnia is often caused by more than one factor, including anxiety, headaches, muscle pain, late-night phone/computer usage, caffeine, sugar, or alcohol consumption, or certain medications. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for insomnia. Popular supplements for sleep quality that come without the dangerous side effects of many pharmaceutical sleep aids include CBD, homeopathic, and Chinese herbal supplements.
If you struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling groggy in the mornings, visit with one of our talented acupuncturists, who can provide a hands-on treatment to identify the issues and help you sleep. They can also recommend natural remedies based on your condition and background so that you can log more hours!
Clara E.
Originally from upstate New York, Clara moved to Brooklyn in the spring of 2017 to finish her undergraduate degree and pursue her passions for architectural restoration, music composition, and visual art. She works as a receptionist at Element. In her free time, Clara likes to explore new neighborhoods, go to museums, and play the piano.