Sleep is very important for your brain health. In a recent study by the University of Surrey and University College London found that sleep is important for the brain to rest and repair itself. Additionally, Dr. Chiara Cirelli of the University of Wisconsin, Madison found that supporting cells (oligodendrocytes) that produce myelin are affected when sleep is lacking. In particular, it seems that the gene expression of these cells are inhibited when a person has a bad night of sleep or no sleep at all.
Quality sleep takes into account the state of deep REM or the dream state. This is the period when oligodendrocytes are at their highest production levels. Myelin is important for the functioning of neurons. Located on the axon of each neuron, myelin acts like an insulator. When myelin is damaged a “short circuit” of the neuron can occur. In essence, the signal sent down the axon becomes impeded or slows down. When this happens, the communication between neurons also slows down. This can affect thinking, memory, muscle movement and more. Even the organs in your body can be affected.
I’ve talked many times of youthfulness. Sleep is an important part of overall fitness and maintaining your youthful brain. When I hear of Miley Cyrus sleeping only 45 minutes a day, I foresee her still developing brain aging quickly. I have to admit that I’ve been through many days of lacking enough sleep. Heck, it was forced upon me when I was in the Marines. Today’s fast-paced world praise people who can function on less and less sleep. The consequences are enormous. We already know that poor sleep leads to an increase in obesity levels. This feeds upon itself since obesity also affects the brain in a negative way. Poor sleep leads to poor eating habits. This is another factor that affects the brain. Poor sleep leads to less exercise. Yes, another factor that affect the brain in a bad way.
If you still believe that you can get by on poor sleep, then be my guest. That is your poor decision. I would surmise that if you’re the CEO of an organization, you’d want your employees to get quality sleep, right? I would also surmise that you’d want to get quality sleep as well. That’s if you want to function at your very best. And to have a brain that will retain its youthfulness. Bad sleep leads to your brain cells not functioning properly. And if you have type of responsibility to others and to yourself, then you have no right to not get quality sleep.
Just do it!
Cheers,
Bob
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness
