Your brain has its own detoxification system

Your brain has its own detoxification system. My latest for The Epoch Times: https://t.co/xXZjZ2l7DS via @epochtimes

— Jennifer Margulis (@JenniferMarguli) August 1, 2022

In all of these relentless and progressive neurodegenerative diseases, misfolded proteins that should not be there glom together in the brain. When these poorly folded protein chains clump together, they can basically start clogging the brain and impairing proper brain function. The brain has a natural system to remove waste, including misfolded proteins, called the glymphatic system.

Sleep disturbance is a co-factor for Alzheimer's disease?  A good-night's sleep is also part of the cure. 

Other peer-reviewed research, published in 2018 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has shown that just one sleepless night can cause a buildup of β-amyloid in the human brain. Researchers in Beijing have found that the β-amyloid peptide is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Disturbed sleep is a common symptom of both Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. (3) (4)

Key is to improve the glymphatic function. 

What they found was that genetically modified mice had compromised glymphatic systems. This suggested to the researchers that improving the brain’s glymphatic functioning could be a way to treat ALS.

One way to achieve this is sleep.  Side-sleeping is best. 

According to Wright, the glymphatic system is active mostly during non-REM sleep. In addition, he explained, the brain is best able to clear toxins—in rodents anyway—during side-sleeping.

In 2015 a team of scientists in New York used fluorescence microscopy and radioactive tracers to analyze the effect of sleeping positions on clearing β-amyloid from the brain.  

High quality sleep, side sleeping, eating foods, like fish oil, that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (which, according to 2017 research done by Chinese scientists, promotes amyloid-β clearance by improving glymphatic system functioning in mice), exercise, and drinking alcohol in moderation may also help.

Given that a good night's sleep helps remedy or prevent Alzheimer's, it would seem that high dose Melatonin would be in order.