Loss of sleep may result in the loss of brain tissue, according to research conducted at Uppsala University. The study, published in the journal Sleep, surveyed a group of young men who were deprived of sleep for one night.
When the subjects' blood was tested the team found increased concentrations of NSE and S-100B, molecules typically found in the brain.
"These brain molecules typically rise in blood under conditions of brain damage. Thus, our results indicate that a lack of sleep may promote neurodegenerative processes," said lead author Christian Benedict. In conclusion, the findings of our trial indicate that a good night's sleep may be critical for maintaining brain health."
The team added that further research might test both blood and spinal fluid samples to discover whether the discrepancies are due to brain cell damage, blood-brain barrier damage, or are "just a consequence of increased gene expression in non-neuronal cells, such as leukocytes."
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