By Tracy Chait
In one of the cooler studies to come along in a while, scientists discovered that the actual space between brain cells increases while you sleep, making way for some amazing goo-like stuff (ok, it’s called cerebrospinal fluid) to flush out toxins while you sleep. But there’s a catch—that “while you sleep” part. The toxic molecules responsible for various neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s stay put while we’re awake, but are flushed out of the brain during sleep due to the space-making, goo-flowing powers of the mind at rest.
The research was an unexpected discovery amidst a study about how sleep helps the brain store memories. Now scientists say there may be many more opportunities to target multiple neurological disorders through sleep. Subsequent sleep and consciousness studies are already underway.
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