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New Research Ties Sleep Loss to Daytime Brain 'Cleaning' as Experts Update Exercise and Nap Guidance

The latest reporting turns established science into practical steps that treat sufficient, consistent sleep as foundational health care.

Overview

  • A MIT experiment found that after a sleepless night, cerebrospinal-fluid 'cleaning' pulses intrude during wakefulness, preceding attention lapses and memory slips.
  • Experts reiterate that most adults need 7–9 hours, with habitual sub‑6‑hour nights tied to immune suppression, metabolic disruption and higher cardiovascular risk.
  • Guidance centers on QQRT sleep hygiene, urging consistent schedules and environments that keep bedrooms dark, cool and quiet while respecting chronotype.
  • Evidence updates exercise advice: strength training, yoga and tai chi improve sleep quality, but very intense sessions should finish at least 3 hours before bedtime.
  • Clinicians caution that long or routine naps can worsen nighttime insomnia and cause grogginess, and that instant sleep onset or obsessive tracking may signal problematic sleep debt and orthosomnia.