October 19, 2013
Author: Jon Hamilton
Published: October 17, 2013 4:59 PM
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/10/18/236211811/brains-sweep-themselves-clean-of-toxins-during-sleep
Summary:
Scientists have long since wondered why animals need sleep.
After all, it seems like an evolutionary weak point: sleep is the perfect time
to be preyed upon. But studied mice and baboons illustrate a brain sanitation
process central to proper functioning of the body; this is thought to use too
much energy to work during consciousness. This cleansing is by an increased
rate of cerebrospinal fluid pumping through the brain, caused by the actual
shrinking of brain cells during sleep. The fluid can circulate more freely with
the increased space between cells, and sweeps the brain of harmful toxins such
as waste proteins. This study may connect to the cause and possible solution of
Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases: one of the wastes cleansed from the brain
during sleep is beta amyloid, a substance related to such conditions.
Connection:
The current unit is all about cells and organelles, which
relates to this article. We learned about how the cytoskeleton assists the cell’s
ever-changing nature, and specifically how the microtubules offer the cell its
shape. In the article’s case, the brain cells are shrinking during unconsciousness;
this altering of size and therefore shape is possible because of the
cytoskeleton. Just as well, proteins were a focal point in our class. Although
the article only mentions them briefly, ridding the brain of waste proteins
that are potentially harmful is significant to the animal’s health. Lastly, the
body’s process of fighting off toxins connects to the importance of our body
finding ways to safeguard itself from hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 is a naturally occurring
toxin in the bodies of animals, and we have evolved with processes that counter
act that harm. Similarly, the toxins mentioned in the article in the brain are
innate, as is the process of clearing them during sleep through pumping
cerebrospinal fluid.
