The Sandman is also a garbage man: Sleep helps your brain clean itself of waste that accumulates while you’re awake, according to a new study from the University of Rochester.
Even better: Some of those waste products that are removed while you snooze are neurotoxins like beta amyloid—proteins that form into plaques associated with Alzheimer’s—as well as alpha synuclein, which may be associated with Parkinson’s.
When you’re asleep, the space surrounding your brain cells grows about 60 percent, helping toxins flow out of your brain. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but it’s one clue as to why sleep is so critical for our survival.
Make shuteye a priority by setting up a nightly routine, which can make it easier for you to fall asleep. And if you’re not logging enough hours, try a power nap: 10 minutes of sleep will lessen fatigue and boost cognitive performance, according to Australian research.
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