Parkinson’s is still considered an incurable disease. A new study by US scientists shows how the disease can be prevented.
Parkinson’s research has produced new findings in recent months: sleep is an important factor in preventing the disease. A current study in the renowned journal “Nature” shows why this is the case.
Dishwasher effect during sleep protects against Parkinson’s disease
A team of researchers at the University of Washington in St. Louis has discovered that the brain carries out a self-cleaning process during sleep – similar to a dishwasher.
But why does the brain have to clean itself at night? According to scientists, brain cells have energy-intensive tasks: they control thoughts, feelings and body movements, they form memory and solve problems. When nutrients are absorbed, a wealth of waste is created that has to be “disposed of”. Otherwise the organ would poison itself, and this in turn could contribute to the development of diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.
It is crucial that the brain disposes of metabolic waste that… [sonst] accumulate and can contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
Study author Dr. Jonathan Kipnis
Researchers are beginning to understand how the brain cleans itself at night
It has long been known that the brain has a kind of “sewerage system” with which it cleans itself of waste products that have accumulated while awake during sleep. “But we didn’t know how this happens,” the researchers said, according to the press release.
Their new finding: The nerve cells in the brain use a kind of mini pump to generate rhythmic waves that then drive fluid through the dense brain tissue and flush out the waste from the spaces between the cells.
“We think that the brain cleaning process is similar to washing dishes,” explained study author Li-Feng Jiang-Xie. Depending on your sleep cycle, the brain wave pattern changes. With large, slow pulses, easily soluble substances may initially be removed. With small, quicker and more stubborn deposits – similar to how you scrub away particularly sticky food residues on a plate. “Perhaps the brain adjusts its cleaning method depending on the type and amount of waste,” says Jiang-Xie.
Sleep actively protects against Parkinson’s
The German Society for Neurology (DGN) also emphasizes that sufficiently long and good sleep is essential for brain health on the occasion of World Parkinson’s Day on April 11th. “Sleep is an important but often underestimated factor in keeping the brain and nerves healthy. On average, seven to eight hours of sleep is recommended – and we should use this prevention potential,” said DGN General Secretary Prof. Dr. Peter Berlit according to the press release.
Helpful for therapies against neurological diseases
The knowledge gained could help in the development of new therapeutic approaches against neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is possible that the removal of certain harmful wastes can be accelerated in a targeted manner – with the aim of eliminating them before they have dire consequences, say the scientists. You can read more about how Parkinson’s progresses and what possible causes are here.