Eli5: Why do we need to sleep so much, what happens in the body when asleep that cannot happen while normal resting or relaxing? Or is it just for the brain?

Question

Eli5: Why do we need to sleep so much, what happens in the body when asleep that cannot happen while normal resting or relaxing? Or is it just for the brain?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Quite new data shows that there are small drainages or “sewer system” in brain that activates when you sleep. It get’s rid of bad metabolites and proteins from neurons that accumulate to brain during their activity, for example tau-proteins that are believed to be the cause of Alzheimers disease. But that is most probably just part of the answer.

I myself took part to that study to find that out, two MRI:s and simultanious EEG, one after staying awake for 24h and sleeping in the MRI tube and other after normal work day. I myself am clinical neurophysiologist and work with EEG:s and brain activity during sleep every day. Fascinating stuff and a lot to be discovered.