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Attention lapses due to sleep deprivation due to flushing fluid from brain

(news.mit.edu)
589 points gmays | 4 comments | 31 Oct 25 13:14 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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gcanyon ◴[31 Oct 25 19:08 UTC] No.45775566[source]▶
What I want to know is: can we trigger these flushes? My grandfather died of/with Alzheimer’s, and I’d prefer not to follow in his footsteps. If we determine that these flushes are key to good brain health, and there were a way either through a pill or even a treatment to up the frequency of these flushes, that would be awesome.
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pedalpete ◴[31 Oct 25 20:51 UTC] No.45776557[source]▶
We can't "trigger" the flushes, however, it looks like we can increase the power of the pump.

This is specifically the area we work in traditionally called slow-wave enhancement which is stimulating the restorative function of sleep.

This paper [1] specifically looks at amyloid response as a result of stimulation and shows a corresponding relationship between stimulation response, amyloid response, and memory. I wouldn't say it's putting a bow on the results, but it is a very promising result.

If you're curious about what we're building, I'll be posting a ShowHN next week which dives into some of the data in a way regulatory requirements don't permit us to do on our website, but until then, check out https://affectablesleep.com

[1] https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afad228

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1. hammock ◴[31 Oct 25 21:01 UTC] No.45776642[source]▶
> We can't "trigger" the flushes

How do you know that?

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2. pedalpete ◴[31 Oct 25 21:18 UTC] No.45776808[source]▶
I work in neurotech/sleeptech and this is the primary function our work focuses on.

However, I also mis-stated that. It is possible to create a slow-wave, however only through magnetic stimulation (rTMS), but that is not realistic outside of a hospital environment.

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3. hammock ◴[31 Oct 25 21:41 UTC] No.45777009[source]▶
Ok awesome. Are you saying that because it is an autonomic process or some other reason?

You will probably say no but I wonder if those yogis who can exert some control over heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing pattern might try to target this process as well.

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4. pedalpete ◴[31 Oct 25 21:46 UTC] No.45777059{3}[source]▶
I'm just saying that based on known science. I don't know if anyone has looked at if yogis, etc can control the glymphatic system.

What blew my mind when I got into neuro just over 5 years ago, is that the glymphatic system was only discovered in 2012!!!! We have SO much to learn about the brain.