The brain may clean out Alzheimer’s plaques during sleep

If sleep deprivation puts garbage removal on the fritz, the memory-robbing disease may develop

brain cleaning illustration

THE CLEAN CYCLE  Lack of sleep may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease by robbing the brain of the time it needs to wash away sticky proteins.

Michael Morgenstern

Neuroscientist Barbara Bendlin studies the brain as Alzheimer’s disease develops.