Sleep-Deprivation Causes Your Brain To Eat Itself, Study Says

The accelerated pace of life, day-to-day activities, and stress make it tough to fall asleep at night. 

Not only this, staying awake for long hours is also bad for your health. 

Sleep deprivation damages your brain as it triggers an overdrive in activities of cells (Astrocytes), thus causing self-cannibalism (the practice of eating oneself).

A recent study showed that lack of sleep causes your brain synapses to be consumed by other brain cells. 

The study was held at Marche Polytechnic University, Italy. 

Moreover, not getting enough sleep is linked with shrinkage of your brain’s gray matter (a brain region involved in sensory perception, muscle control, and self-control).

Let’s know how you can reconsider a healthy sleep regime by following a few steps.

Effect Of Sleep Deprivation

Researchers want to know how chronic sleep deprivation affects our brain activities as previous studies showed a lack of sleep is linked with neurological disorders.

In order to figure it out, mice’s brain activities were monitored during the chronically sleep-deprived state. 

The study involved two subjects, well-rested mice who stayed awake for eight hours and other mice who stayed awake for five days. 

The results mimic the dangerous effects of chronic sleep deprivation.

Researchers found something disappointing. 

Astrocytes, are brain cells whose job is to figure out and kill old synapses overdrive when mice are sleep-deprived. 

Astrocytes are too active in sleep-deprived mice than usual. It replaces healthy cells, researchers discovered in their study.

The finding showed a lack of sleep is linked to brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. 

Still, research is going on, that will investigate how long the effect lasts in sleep-deprived subjects.

Tips For Better Sleep

There are several ways that help you to fall asleep. Some of them are mentioned below-

• Do exercise
• Reduce caffeine intake
• Practice relaxing bedtime ritual
• Practice meditation
• Avoid heavy meals, cigarettes, and alcohol
• Limit blue light exposure, i.e., limit the usage of electronic devices

Sleep helps in regenerating our immune system, energy levels, & respiratory system so that the brain can process well. 

Moreover, it regulates your blood pressure as well as heart rate. It can eliminate harmful toxins from your body. 

That’s why sleep plays a vital role in everyone’s life. 

If you still find difficulty falling asleep, immediately consult a doctor or professional.