Foreign media: Chinese scientists have discovered in a breakthrough study that sleep helps the brain enter repair mode and remove harmful free radicals accumulated during wakefulness.
This study was published on May 15 in the journal "Cell Metabolism", revealing how hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), as a byproduct of metabolism, acts as a molecular signal to initiate the sleep process and restore balance to the brain. The research shows that when the level of H₂O₂ rises in sleep-regulating neurons, the brain switches to the "repair mode" and promotes restorative sleep.
An excessive accumulation of free radicals can affect sleep quality and cause inflammation, providing key clues for studying insomnia related to aging and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. This discovery not only answers the long-standing puzzle of why sleep is crucial to living organisms but also provides new ideas for treating sleep disorders associated with oxidative stress.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833160788082760/
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