Tiny Brain Neurons Linked to Sleep and Waste Clearance May Hold key to Preventing Neurodegenerative Disease
New research reveals a small population of neurons, sensitive to stress and crucial for regulating blood flow in the brain, plays a surprisingly large role in both healthy sleep cycles and the brain’s waste removal system. Disruptions to thes neurons coudl possibly contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, according to a study published in eLife.
Researchers discovered that type-I nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-positive neurons exhibit heightened activity during sleep and are deeply involved in vasomotion - the brain’s process of expanding and contracting blood vessels. This vasomotion is critical for clearing metabolic waste products from the brain, a process that falters in neurodegenerative conditions. The study, conducted on mice, showed a significant reduction in blood flow and neural activity correlated with the activity of these neurons during sleep.
“This demonstrates that a small population of nNOS-positive neurons is indispensable for regulating both neural and vascular dynamics in the whole brain, raising the possibility that loss of these neurons could contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases and sleep disturbances,” the researchers write.
A consistent blood flow is vital for delivering oxygen and nutrients and maintaining mental wellbeing.The study suggests chronic stress, or other factors impacting these neurons, could be a previously overlooked environmental factor in declining brain health.
“Reduced blood flow is one of many contributing factors to reduced brain function and neurodegenerative diseases,” says researcher Drew. “While we certainly know aging plays a major role in this,losing these rare neurons to chronic stress could be an unexplored environmental cause for poor brain health.”
While the research was conducted on mouse brains, scientists believe the findings have implications for understanding similar processes in humans. Future studies will focus on confirming these links and exploring potential therapeutic targets related to these stress-sensitive neurons.
