Sleep is far more than rest – it is one of our most powerful mechanisms for long-term brain health.
In an episode of his podcast, sleep researcher (and “sleep guru”) Matthew Walker explains how the brain’s so-called glymphatic system works like a purification plant during deep sleep.
During these hours, harmful proteins such as amyloid and tau are cleared away – the same substances that can otherwise contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. When we sleep too little, that process deteriorates, creating a vicious circle of proteins, poorer sleep and increased risk of dementia.
Walker also highlights new research on a new generation of sleep medications – Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonists (DORAs) – which not only improve sleep quality but in studies have also been shown to reduce levels of these toxic proteins. Substances such as suvorexant, lemborexant and daridorexant have in early trials been linked to both better sleep and lower levels of amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau.
For us at Executive Health, where the goal is to extend healthspan and protect brain function well into older age, this confirms what we already know:
Good sleep is one of the most powerful and accessible investments in the brain’s long-term health.
Our Premium screening includes sleep analysis, and as an add-on you can do our Brain Health scan. Of course, we don’t just want to live, but to live clear, sharp and aware.
On a completely separate note, we also want to give credit to Dr Walker’s total makeover. He looks 20 years younger than when he first launched his book. We can only hope that it’s purely thanks to good sleep…
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