Deep Sleep Found to Drive Brain’s Waste Clearance, Raising Concerns Over Sleep Aids

New research reveals how norepinephrine orchestrates waste removal during sleep and highlights potential risks of sleep medications disrupting this process.

The glymphatic system, active during deep sleep, clears toxic proteins like amyloid and tau linked to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers identified norepinephrine waves during non-REM sleep as key drivers of rhythmic blood vessel contractions, propelling cerebrospinal fluid to flush out brain waste.
Mice treated with zolpidem, a common sleep aid, experienced a 50% reduction in norepinephrine waves and a 30% decrease in fluid transport, impairing the glymphatic system's function.
The findings suggest that while sleep aids can promote faster sleep onset, they may disrupt natural sleep architecture and its restorative benefits.
Although the study focused on mice, similar mechanisms in humans suggest potential implications for sleep medication use and long-term brain health.