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Sleeping Brain Waves Draw a Healthy Bath for Neurons
An organized tide of brain waves, blood and spinal fluid pulsing through a sleeping brain may flush away neural toxins that cause Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Scientists are beginning to understand one of the ways in which sleep may benefit the health of the brain: by organizing the flow of fluids that can wash away harmful build-ups of proteins and wastes around neurons.

https://www.quantamagazine.org/sleeping-brain-waves-draw-a-healthy-bath-for-neurons-20191216/

Another recent study suggested losing even a few hours of sleep within a single night led to increased beta amyloid protein, a key contributor in dementia risk. Parents of young children everywhere are losing their minds. 

https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2020/01/07/WNL.0000000000008866

Really I think has to be multipurpose to account for the more active REM period.

Now to convince my cat to stop asking to be fed at 3 AM...