While we sleep our brain is collecting and removing metabolic waste. One of the main benefits of sleep is that it supports better brain health! A recent study has found that this ‘garbage removal’ involves the central glymphatic system and is regulated by our circadian rhythm.
The glymphatic system is the brain’s ‘garbage collection’ and ‘rubbish removal’ service. Analogous to the systemic lymphatic system, the glymphatic system removes waste products such as oxidised fats, denatured proteins, and metabolic by-products. These can be harmful if left in the central nervous system (CNS). There is substantial interest in the glymphatic system’s role in waste clearance as a build-up of waste products is linked to disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.