Science confirms: not getting enough sleep? You are destroying your brain cells

The study, published in the scientific journal PNAS, explained that the defect occurs within specialized cells called oligodendrocytes, which are responsible for regulating the lipids and cholesterol needed to create myelin that insulates the nerve fibers and maintains their normal function.

In the first part of the study, the researchers analyzed MRI scans of 185 healthy volunteers and compared the integrity of the white matter in their brains to the quality of their sleep, based on a standardized sleep assessment scale.

How does our brain “rebell” when we deprive it of sleep? Research reveals the facts

To better understand the biological mechanism, the team conducted experiments on mice that were deprived of sleep for 10 consecutive days. Although the size of the nerve fibers remained constant, the insulating sheath surrounding them became significantly thinner compared to animals that slept normally.

The researchers also noticed a slowing of almost a third in the speed of nerve signals, along with poor coordination between different brain areas, which was reflected in the mice’s performance in memory and movement tests, Al-Arabiya mentioned.

Genetic analysis revealed that lack of sleep led to a disruption in cholesterol regulation within oligodendrocytes, which weakened their ability to produce myelin with the required efficiency.

In an unusual move, the researchers gave the mice a drug known as cyclodextrin, which helped restore cholesterol transport inside the cells, resulting in a marked improvement in memory and motor performance, confirming that the chemical imbalance was the cause of the damage.

A health challenge

Although most of the findings were based on animal models, the researchers emphasize that these results open a new door to understanding the profound effect of lack of sleep on the human brain, especially in light of shorter and shorter sleep patterns.

The team noted that chronic sleep deprivation has become a public health challenge, due to its association with slower reaction times, increased errors and poor concentration, as well as its previous association with heart disease, depression and dementia.

The researchers conclude that sleep is not just mental rest, but an essential process for repairing the brain and protecting its cells, and warn that ignoring it may leave deeper neurological effects than previously thought.