Ever Wonder: Why Do We Sleep?

Why do we sleep—when it seems so evolutionarily risky? University of Rochester neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard, PhD, helped uncover the answer with the discovery of the glymphatic system, a previously unknown network that cleans waste from the brain during sleep. In this video, learn how deep, non-REM sleep activates a nightly brain-cleaning process that flushes out toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases—and why sleep disruption, aging, and even some sleep medications can interfere with this essential function. This research fundamentally changed how scientists understand sleep: not as rest, but as active maintenance for long-term brain health. #SleepScience #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #GlymphaticSystem #WhyWeSleep #UniversityofRochester #EverWonder Subscribe to the University of Rochester on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UniversityRochester?sub_confirmation=1