Chronic sleep deprivation may lead to brain eating itself

26 May 2017, 04:48 PM
Chronic sleep deprivation may lead to brain eating itself
Chronic sleep deprivation may lead to brain eating itself

Do you often feel exhausted? Well it can be related to lack of brain capacity. A new study has found that the reason behind this could be chronic sleep deprivation which can lead to brain eating itself.

The brains of mice that had consistent sleep, spontaneous wake, sleep deprivation and chronic sleep deprivation, were examined. Block-face scanningsoftware was used by the scientists in order to measure the synapses and cell processes in the mouse's frontal cortex. According to the researchers, the mice that were deprived of sleep showed more activity with the cells called astrocytes.

According to the study, astrocytes start breaking down more of the brain refuse.

“We show for the first time that portions of the synapses are literally eaten by astrocytes because of sleep loss,” Mr Bellesi told the New Scientist. He also suggested that this could be brain's way of 'cleaning up' old brain 'debris'.

Effect on microglial cells was showed in the study. Around 15 per cent cells within the brain are microglial cells. These cells look around for plaques, damaged or unnecessary neuron agents in the brain and also found in the spinal cord.

Tyhe study explained that the indications of microglial activation were prompted by the chronic sleep contraint. Chronic sleep constraint in this siotuation was five days of being kept awake. Since serious brain disorders can be caused by low-level sustained activation of microglial cells, Bellisi said, “these results were more concerning.”

First Published: Friday, May 26, 2017 04:43 PM