Scientists from the Boston University in Massachusetts identified how the human brain cleanses itself from ‘waste products’ while we sleep.

Not only for scientists it is obvious that sleep is tremendously important among other things to refuel, energize and very important for health. Research was also knowledgable about the body and brain specifically going through a process of cleansing. How these processes could look like was unknown. The scientists form Boston University had a breakthrough in research and identified that protein sediments are flushed out of our system with the help of spinal fluid.

What did the study focus on?

The study consisted of 13 participants aged between 23 and 33 years. After reading the setup of the study I think we can agree that the subjects faced the most difficult part in the stduy. They agreed to MRI scans while (trying) to sleep. What’s the issue with that you may think? Anyone ever having to go through an MRI scan will know the answer. Finding sleep in a tube for magnetic resonance imaging seems to be an impossible task. The machines are loud, barely have any space and are therefore not a very comfortable sleep environment. Besides, the subjects had to wear EEG headgear, which allowed the researchers to measure the electrical activity in their brains.

In short, it’s a strange environment to get some sleep.

Despite the challenging hurdles participants (somewhat) found sleep and researchers were able to track the activity of blood and the spinal fluid in the brain of the subjects.

The study was able to show that blood flow from the brain during sleep. The assumption is that the brain reduces its capacity and neuron functionality in sleep as it requires less oxygen. At the same time, more cerebrospinal fluid flows into the brain to compensate for the reduction in pressure. At this stage, the cleansing process it at full blast and flushes out any protein sediments.

In a follow-up study, researchers want to investigate an older group to find out whether and to what extent the natural aging processes affect the spinal fluid. Also, the researchers want to understand learn more how the electrical waves, blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid in the brain work together.

Fun fact, our founder went to Boston University in 2014 for his Masters Degree.