Pulling an all-nighter may cause brain damage: Study

Workaholics and cramming students, take note.

We all know that sleep is important. But could a lack of sleep really do significant harm?

According to a new study published in the journal Sleep, pulling an all-nighter may cause brain damage.

Researchers from Sweden's Uppsala University studied 15 healthy men who were told to sleep for eight hours one night, and none at all on another night. The study participants gave blood samples at the beginning and end of each night.

The results: the sleepless nights proved hard on the brain.

"We observed that a night of total sleep loss was followed by increased blood concentrations of NSE and S-100B. These brain molecules typically rise in blood under conditions of brain damage. Thus, our results indicate that a lack of sleep may promote neurodegenerative processes," says Christian Benedict, a sleep researcher at Uppsala’s Department of Neuroscience.

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Benedict believes his team's research could support previous research that suggested a lack of sleep could be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

This research also aligns with earlier research that revealed that the brain uses sleep to "take out the cerebral trash," refreshing itself by removing the buildup of certain mental metabolites.

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In the small study, sleep deprivation increased levels of NSE and S-100B by around 20 per cent, compared to levels shown after a good night's rest. When these brain molecules appear in higher concentrations, "it's typically associated with brain tissue damage, a problem with the blood-brain barrier, or both," reports the National Monitor.

"What we found was their levels in the blood rose in the group that went without sleep for a night. This was not to the extent that would happen after a head injury, for instance, but it was still significant," Benedict tells the Daily Mail.

"During sleep, the brain cleans itself of toxic substances and NSE and S-100B increase in response to these substances."

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While the scientists note that further research is needed to confirm a clear correlation between all-nighters and deteriorating brain health, they still urge people to prioritize some proper shuteye.

Benedict speculates that skipping sleep on a regular basis could lead to chronic memory loss if certain regions of the brain are damaged.

"In conclusion, the findings of our trial indicate that a good night's sleep may be critical for maintaining brain health," says Benedict.