Poor sleep destroys memory

Many people notice that their memory gets worse as they age, but not everyone knows that poor sleep may be one of the causes. Researchers have found that lack of night’s rest prevents the brain from getting rid of harmful substances, which can accelerate the development of age-related changes.

The team of scientists, led by Professor Tatia Li, focused on studying the glymphatic system, a special mechanism in the brain responsible for eliminating toxins. It is the one that plays a key role in maintaining a healthy nervous system. If this process is disrupted, the brain begins to accumulate harmful proteins, which can lead to serious diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

To understand how exactly the lack of sleep affects the brain, experts examined 72 elderly people with the help of functional MRI and sleep monitoring. It turned out that in those who did not sleep well, the activity of the glymphatic system decreased. This, in turn, affected the work of nerve connections responsible for memory.

The connection between the quality of sleep and the state of the brain is becoming more and more obvious. When a person rests, his brain activates the purification process, getting rid of harmful substances. If sleep is disturbed, this system begins to fail, and toxic proteins accumulate, leading to cognitive impairment.

The results of the study confirm: good sleep is one of the key factors in healthy aging. Researchers note that memory problems are more common in older adults with disrupted sleep patterns. This discovery emphasizes the importance of maintaining adequate rest to preserve mental clarity and cognitive health.