07/03/2019
Sleep
Recent studies found that insomnia is linked with abnormalities in specific brain tissue -- also known as "white matter." Primary insomnia is consistent problems falling asleep or staying asleep that is not related to any other medical condition or known cause. It often leads to daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety disorders. Primary insomnia affects up to 5 percent of adults.
Research indicates that participants with insomnia have reduced white matter "integrity" in several regions of the brain -- including the thalamus, which regulates consciousness, sleep and alertness and the corpus callosum, the area that bridges the two halves of the brain.
Researchers are now looking at whether treating insomnia can restore lost connections. In the meantime, we know that sleep is vital for brain maintenance and repair, so be sure to get your daily ZZs!
