This system plays a crucial role in removing harmful waste products from the brain, a process essential for mental health.
Now, a Danish study led by postdoc researcher Natalie Hauglund from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Oxford suggests that sleeping pills may interfere with this cleaning process, potentially increasing the risk of severe diseases like Alzheimer’s.
The Brain’s “Dishwasher”
The brain has its own cleaning mechanism, known as the glymphatic system.
During sleep, this system flushes out waste through cerebrospinal fluid, preventing the accumulation of harmful proteins linked to neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s.
A key player in this process is the molecule noradrenaline.
During deep sleep, noradrenaline is released in rhythmic waves, acting like a pump that drives fluid flow through the brain.
But what happens when you take sleeping pills?
According to the new study, published in the journal Cell, the sleeping drug Zolpidem reduces noradrenaline waves by 50 percent in mice.
This significantly weakens fluid circulation in the brain, impairing its cleaning function.
The results are concerning because waste that isn’t properly cleared can accumulate over time, forming sticky protein plaques—one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Can Findings in Mice Apply to Humans?
Since the study was conducted on mice, an important question arises: Can these findings be applied to humans?
Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen from the University of Copenhagen believes there is good reason to think so.
Previous research has shown that humans have the same physiological mechanisms for brain cleaning.
However, he points out that dosage and effects of sleeping medication may differ between humans and mice.
More studies are needed to confirm the connection, but sleep researcher Poul Jennum urges caution:
“The effect that sleeping medication has on glymphatic flow is an important finding. But this is just a small part of the picture. Sleeping pills influence an incredibly complex network that also involves cardiovascular function, breathing, mood, and much more,” he told Videnskab.dk.
This article is based on information from Videnskab.dk.