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from the does-it-drip-out-of-their-ears? dept.
Stony Brook University researchers imaged rodent brains and found that a lateral sleeping position more effectively removed "brain waste":
Sleeping in the lateral, or side position, as compared to sleeping on one's back or stomach, may more effectively remove brain waste and prove to be an important practice to help reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological diseases, according to researchers at Stony Brook University.
By using dynamic contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image the brain's glymphatic pathway, a complex system that clears wastes and other harmful chemical solutes from the brain, Stony Brook University researchers Hedok Lee, PhD, Helene Benveniste, MD, PhD, and colleagues, discovered that a lateral sleeping position is the best position to most efficiently remove waste from the brain. In humans and many animals the lateral sleeping position is the most common one. The buildup of brain waste chemicals may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions. Their finding is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
[...] "It is interesting that the lateral sleep position is already the most popular in human and most animals – even in the wild – and it appears that we have adapted the lateral sleep position to most efficiently clear our brain of the metabolic waste products that built up while we are awake," says Dr. Nedergaard. "The study therefore adds further support to the concept that sleep subserves a distinct biological function of sleep and that is to 'clean up' the mess that accumulates while we are awake. Many types of dementia are linked to sleep disturbances, including difficulties in falling asleep. It is increasing acknowledged that these sleep disturbances may accelerate memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. Our finding brings new insight into this topic by showing it is also important what position you sleep in," she explained.
Dr. Benveniste cautioned that while the research team speculates that the human glymphatic pathway will clear brain waste most efficiency when sleeping in the lateral position as compared to other positions, testing with MRI or other imaging methods in humans are a necessary first step.
Extracellular aggregates are #6 on the SENS aging damage checklist, and all you have to do to get rid of them is sleep on your side (allegedly, or if you are a rat).
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday August 09 2015, @05:36PM
Does that explain why I can't sleep on the same side for very long? This side, and then that, with a short stop in between on either my back or my front. Gotta get the waste out of both sides, so I toss and turn?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Sunday August 09 2015, @06:50PM
More likely circulation related.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Monday August 10 2015, @04:25AM
I don't move in my sleep at all (the rare occasion when I do goes along with not sleeping well). If I need to turn over, I wake up, but more often I just assume the position and stay there all night. This is apparently inherited, as my grandmother was the same way. (Unlike my mom, who sleeps like a landed fish, flapping limbs in all directions.)
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.