Why loss of sleep results in loss of brain cells

According to a study, prolonged lack of sleep may lead to 25% of certain brain cells dying.

17:33 20 March 2014

A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience claims that prolonged lack of sleep can be more dangerous to humans than previously thought. Researchers claim that this can lead to 25% of certain brain cells dying.

Researchers monitored mice that were kept awake; a trait common in many people working long hours, night shifts and struggling to sleep. The team at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine then studied certain brain cells which are involved in keeping the brain alert.

The study concluded that after several days of just 4-5 hours of sleep, the mice lost 25% of the brain cells in part of the brain stem.

Although the researchers consider the study as the first evidence that sleep loss can lead to loss of brain cells, they agree that more work needs to be done to prove if prolonged lack of sleep can cause permanent brain damage to human beings.

Prof Sigrid Veasey of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, told BBC News: "We now have evidence that sleep loss can lead to irreversible injury.

"This might be in a simple animal but this suggests to us that we are going to have to look very carefully in humans."