A lack of sleep 'damages the brain in a similar way to being hit on the head'

The study results confirm the importance of a good night's sleep Lack of sleep is associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and MS
By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 15:28, 31 December 2013 | UPDATED: 19:20, 1 January 2014

Ever feel like youve been hit on the head after a bad nights sleep? According to scientists, the thought isnt as far-fetched as it seems. A study found going without sleep for just one night causes changes in the brain similar to those that occur after a blow to the head. The researchers said the healthy young men examined in the study showed a spike in the same chemicals which indicate brain damage.

Being sleep deprived causes a sim ilar change in the brain to that seen after a head injury - it results in a spike in the chem icals associated w ith brain injury

Professor Christian Benedict, of Uppsala University, Sweden, explained that the chemcials NSE and S100B are biomarkers for brain damage, such as concussion. He said: What we found was their levels in the blood rose in the group that went without sleep for a

night. This was not to the extent that would happen after a head injury, for instance, but it was still significant.

The brain requires sleep to cleanse itself of toxic substances. A lack of sleep is associated w ith an increased risk of Alzheim er's disease and Parkinson's

During sleep, the brain cleans itself of toxic substances and NSE and S-100B increase in response to these substances. He said the findings back up previous research showing how the brain uses sleep to cleanse itself. Professor Benedict also said his study could support previous studies which linked a lack of sleep with increased risk of Alzheimers, Parkinsons and multiple sclerosis. The rise of the chemicals in the blood after sleep loss may suggest not getting enough sleep is conducive to a loss of brain tissue, he explained. Professor Benedict, whose study is published in the journal Sleep, added: In conclusion, the findings of our trial indicate a good nights sleep may be critical for maintaining brain health. A third of the UK population suffer from sleep-related problems, while the average person now sleeps for only seven hours a night, compared with almost nine a few decades ago. Many scientists believe irregular sleeping patterns lead to illnesses ranging from aches and pains to heart disease, while less than eight hours sleep a night can lower the IQ the next day.

Comments (112)
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Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all torontoboy45, UK, 6 hours ago I hope your 'journalists' don't suffer sleep deprivation. If they do, it goes a long way in explaining articles such as this.

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Click to rate Babblefish, Newmarket, United Kingdom, 7 hours ago I have a child with severe autism ....me only needs a couple of hours sleep which means that's all I get too!!,,,

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Click to rate Alba10, Hamilton, New Zealand, 10 hours ago i live in terror thinking about all the things that could give me Alzheimer's & Parkinsons

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Click to rate Trinket, Stockport, United Kingdom, 16 hours ago I'd better get to bed then

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Click to rate Sue Hamilton Briggs, leicester, United Kingdom, 21 hours ago I think there is some sense to this article.i have had sleep disorder for years..I now have really bad memory loss.i forget simple tasks ,I make mistakes that I shouldn't make while doing otherwise mastered skills...very frustrating indeed

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Click to rate Sue Hamilton Briggs, leicester, United Kingdom, 21 hours ago Having sleep disorder for years I can relate to this article and think it makes a lot of sense..my memory loss is getting worrying.i watch myself tackling otherwise simple tasks and make a mess of it! Skills I have acquired and mastered are now sometimes difficult and I make mistakes that I simply shouldn't make

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Click to rate Headliner, Cheshire, United Kingdom, 1 day ago

People who work nights have no option they have to earn a living someone has to do it, I knew a retired nurse who lived till she was nearly eighty and was bright as a button after working the night shift in a hospital for many years, my own father was on night duty every fortnight when I was younger he did this for 25 years, I only ever sleep 5-6 hours a night myself.

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Click to rate brenda56, kent, United Kingdom, 1 day ago Perhaps the people behind the e-rostering at Hospitals can alter the shift patterns that came in where you now have to do night and day shifts in the same 7 day work pattern as you can not just do nights now you must do days every month meant to be so you can do your e-learning or keep up to date with new things brought in .but in realty it ruins your sleep pattern and a lot of people feel sick as they are so tired it also saves the NHS a lot of money .

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Click to rate awwiski, sotton, 1 day ago The number of nights I had to sit up and do my Uni works. Can I now sue them for humane cruelty????????????

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AGPCUK, Bournemouth, United Kingdom, 1 day ago Thatcher didn't sleep much so that explains the Madness.

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