Sleep Deprivation Slows Brain Signals by Thinning Myelin, New Study Finds
A study combining MRI data from 185 sleep-deprived adults with animal experiments shows sleep loss thins brain myelin and disrupts cholesterol delivery, slowing interhemispheric signal transmission and leading to attention, memory, and motor impairments. Restoring myelin-related processes in animals by boosting cholesterol suggests a biological target for intervention. To protect brain health when sleep is limited, aim for 7–9 hours of sleep, consume healthy fats to support myelin, take short naps, optimize the sleep environment, and maintain regular exercise.
