It might be worth working a little bit harder to get that much-desired, but often elusive, good night’s sleep.

Deep sleep clears the mind of waste just as a “dishwasher” cleans dirty plates and glasses, just-published research suggests — and there’s more.

The findings also offer insights into how sleeping pills may disrupt the “brainwashing” system — potentially affecting cognitive function for people over the long run.

ANOTHER REASON TO GET MORE SLEEP AND THIS ONE MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

Study senior author professor Maiken Nedergaard of the University of Rochester and the University of Copenhagen said norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter and hormone) triggers blood vessels to contract — generating slow pulsations that create a rhythmic flow in the surrounding fluid to carry away waste, news agency SWNS noted.

Said Nedergaard, “It’s like turning on the dishwasher before you go to bed and waking up with a clean brain. . . . We’re essentially asking what drives this process and trying to define restorative sleep based on” this “glymphatic clearance.”

The brain has a built-in waste removal process – the glymphatic system – that circulates fluid in the brain and spinal cord to clear out waste, according to the scientists. 

The process helps remove toxic proteins that form sticky plaques linked to neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

But the scientists indicated that what drives the system was unclear until now, according to the study.

Is all sleep created equal? The researchers wanted to find out.

To find clues, Nedergaard and her team looked into what happens in mice when their brains sleep, as SWNS reported of the study. The team focused on the relationship between norepinephrine and blood flow during deep sleep.

TRUMP’S DAYLIGHT SAVING PLAN AND SLEEP: WHAT YOU MUST KNOW

They found that norepinephrine waves correlate to variations in brain blood volume — suggesting that norepinephrine triggers a rhythmic pulsation in the blood vessels. The researchers then compared the changes in blood volume to brain fluid flow.

The brain fluid flow fluctuates in correspondence to blood volume changes, suggesting the vessels act as pumps to propel the surrounding brain fluid to flush out waste.

During deep sleep, toxic proteins that form sticky plaques linked to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are removed, scientists say in a new study.  (iStock)

Natalie Hauglund of the University of Copenhagen and the University of Oxford, the study’s lead author, said, “You can view norepinephrine as [the] conductor of an orchestra.” 

She added, “There’s a harmony in the constriction and dilation of the arteries, which then drives the cerebrospinal fluid through the brain to remove the waste products.”  

‘I CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE OF RACING THOUGHTS AT NIGHT — HOW CAN I STOP THEM?’: ASK A DOCTOR

Hauglund said she wanted to understand whether all sleep is created equal. 

To find out, the research team administered zolpidem, a common drug to aid sleep, to mice.

“If people aren’t getting the full benefits of sleep, they should be aware of that, so they can make informed decisions.” 

They found that the norepinephrine waves during deep sleep were 50% lower in zolpidem-treated mice than in naturally sleeping mice. 

Although the zolpidem-treated mice fell asleep more quickly — fluid transport into the brain dropped more than 30%, as SWNS reported.

Two new studies indicate the importance of getting a good night’s sleep — with one study saying a lack of sleep may be sabotaging the brain’s ability to keep intrusive thoughts at bay. (iStock)

The researchers say their findings, published in the journal Cell, suggest that the sleeping aid may disrupt the norepinephrine-driven waste clearance during sleep.

Hauglund said, “More and more people are using sleep medication, and it’s really important to know if that’s healthy sleep. If people aren’t getting the full benefits of sleep, they should be aware of that, so they can make informed decisions.” 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The research team said the findings likely apply to humans, who also have a glymphatic system, although it requires further testing.

Nedergaard added, “Now we know norepinephrine is driving the cleaning of the brain, we may figure out how to get people a long and restorative sleep.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Meanwhile, a lack of sleep may be doing more damage than just making people groggy.

It could be sabotaging the brain’s ability to keep intrusive thoughts at bay.

Anyone who suffers from sleep deprivation may find that the brain’s defense against unwanted memories is weakened, say experts. (iStock)

Another new study, this one published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that sleep deprivation weakens the brain’s defense against unwanted memories, allowing them to flood the mind, according to the New York Post. 

“We show that sleep deprivation disrupts prefrontal inhibition of memory retrieval, and that the overnight restoration of this inhibitory mechanism is associated with time spent in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep,” the scientists said.

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.

Use escape to exit the menu.

As Los Angeles battles the worst wildfires in the city’s history, thousands of people have been displaced or have seen their homes burn to the ground.

Around 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate and some 10,000 structures were destroyed, according to the Associated Press. At least 10 people have died as a result of the blazes.

The devastation of the fires has undoubtedly taken a grave toll on the psyches of those affected, experts agree.

STEVE GUTTENBERG CALLS LA WILDFIRES ‘GREAT EQUALIZER,’ URGES PEOPLE TO LEAN ON ONE ANOTHER

Fox News Digital spoke with celebrities and mental health experts, who offered the following guidance for the people impacted.

Recognize your feelings

For those who have experienced a loss from the fires, common reactions include shock, disbelief and confusion, according to David Kessler, a grief counselor in Los Angeles and founder of Grief.com. 

“I call it grief brain,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Your mind is trying to comprehend what happened, and it’s a hard thing for it to do, because this is unimaginable that your house, your safety, is suddenly gone.”

Not all grief is related to death, Kessler noted, as there are many different types of losses. 

“I always say grief is a change you didn’t want — and certainly a fire is a change we didn’t want,” he added.

WHAT IS PTSD? SYMPTOMS THAT CAN EMERGE AFTER EXPERIENCING A TRAUMATIC EVENT

It’s important to “self-validate” the reality of the loss, he said.

“People might give you toxic positivity of, ‘well, at least no one died,’” he said. “And while that’s true, the reality is you still have lost your home. Don’t let anyone minimize that.”

“The loss of a home is devastating and it can take years to recover.”

“I think we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness.”

Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health.

“I’ve seen so much tragedy the last three or four days that I’ve got to be careful to … keep a hold of my mind,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. 

“And I think that we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness. And it’s going to be really tough because this is like nothing you’ve ever seen.”

Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health. (AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images; Fox News)

Gutenberg noted that while it’s “very normal” to be down, he is trying not to let himself “go down that hole.”

“But I’m pretty sad about this,” he added.

HOW TO COPE WITH ‘COLLECTIVE GRIEF’ WHEN MASS TRAGEDY STRIKES

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., noted that the grief following the Los Angeles fires is “profound.”

“It’s not just about the physical loss of homes or belongings — it’s also about the sense of safety and normalcy that has been lost,” he told Fox News Digital.  

“It’s important for people to feel emotions and not ignore them. This is a normal reaction to such overwhelming loss and tragedy.”

Reach out for support

Guttenberg emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with others and drawing support from the community during a disaster of this magnitude.

“We’re social animals — we need people,” he said. “So I’m reaching out to my friends. There’s no way to meet right now because it’s so dangerous — so the best thing you cn do … is call and reach out and maybe you can drive somewhere.” 

Experts agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us.” (AP Newsroom)

Most of the people in town have evacuated, he pointed out. “There’s probably 10% of the population left here. Or less.”

Kessler reiterated that connection is critical after this type of trauma. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us. People equal safety,” he said. 

“We need other people around us. People equal safety.”

Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church outside Seattle, Washington, agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss.

“We need God and we need each other. Community is vital,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Family, friends and neighbors care about you. God sends His love through these people. Reject isolation. Don’t shut down and don’t shut people out.”

Take action

“In times of crisis such as this, regaining even small amounts of control can be grounding,” Alpert said. 

He recommends creating a plan for what’s next, whether it’s finding temporary housing, accessing local resources or starting the process of rebuilding. 

“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”

Ben Treger hugs his wife Sarah Treger after finding his grandfather’s watches at the remains of their Pacific Palisades home on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. “If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” one expert advised. (Juan Carlo/Imagn)

Kessler agreed, noting that people who are in the area but did not experience loss may feel a sense of relief mixed with guilt.

“If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” he advised.

In the longer term, advocacy efforts can be a powerful tool in dealing with trauma, Alpert noted.

MIKE POSNER REVEALS HOW FAITH REDIRECTED HIS LIFE, OFFERS ADVICE ON SPENDING HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY

“Working to improve fire prevention policies, supporting relief efforts or helping neighbors rebuild can provide a sense of purpose and empowerment during this difficult time,” he said. 

Some people may be angry about the systems that failed to prevent the fires in the first place, Alpert acknowledged, and this anger can be a “powerful motivator.”

“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”

“Use that energy to demand better, but don’t get stuck on the anger,” he advised.  

“By holding leaders accountable for the policies — or lack thereof — that contributed to this devastation, and by asking the right questions and demanding answers, you might start to feel better.”

Seek professional help as needed

“The L.A. fires no doubt will not just leave physical scars, but deep emotional ones, too,” Alpert said. 

“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.”

“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.” (iStock)

In many cases, this can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of this condition can include vivid memories of the fires, nightmares, hypervigilance or avoidance of anything that reminds someone of the event, Alpert said.

“It’s important to see this not as weakness, but rather, the mind’s and body’s way of trying to cope with extreme stress.”

“While the fires were devastating, they don’t diminish your strength or character.”

As you seek help, it’s also important to understand that PTSD doesn’t define you, he added.

“It’s a part of your experience, not your identity. While the fires were devastating, they didn’t diminish your strength or character.”

Lean on your faith

For those who have experienced traumatic grief, Kessler emphasized the importance of faith and spirituality.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“They help ground us in a world full of fear,” he said. “And when we’ve lost everything, it can feel like our faith is the one thing we have to hold onto.”

During a time of crisis, Guttenberg said it’s important to “rely on anything that you believe in.”

Cesar Plaza becomes emotional while looking at his home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 9, 2025. “It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” a pastor told Fox News Digital. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) (AP Newsroom)

“If you believe in your mom and dad, you rely on them, your brothers and sisters, your friends, your family. God, the universe.”

Above all, he added, “Just remember, you’re not alone. God is always with you. Jesus is always with you. You’ve got to hang on to that.”

Find ways to exercise gratitude

During times of hardship, it’s important to recognize the good things that are still in your life, Pastor Bradley said.

“It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” he told Fox News Digital.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

“You need to be intentional to take inventory of the blessings in your life. For example, you might lose a home or business, but you still have family.”

This mindset will help you keep a healthy perspective and protect gratitude, Bradley added.