Sleeping during the day is likely to increase the risk of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
- Sleeping during the day can upset the biological clock.
- It could also be the origin of neurological disorders.
Sleep allows our brain to purify itself: it evacuates at night all the waste that accumulates during daytime awakening, thanks to a system called “glymphatic”. In NatureCommunications, the researchers indicate that this cleaning mechanism is not only associated with the phases of sleep or wakefulness, but also with our biological clock. So, by taking a nap, we disrupt the rhythm of the glymphatic system, which can have repercussions on neurological health.
A disruption of the circadian rhythm
The circadian rhythm is an internal clock that regulates various functions in our body, especially sleep and wake cycles. To study the effects of daytime sleep on the brain, scientists anesthetized mice during the day when they were sleeping. Demonstration: their glymphatic system continued to function normally. This means that the activation of this system must be linked to our internal clock, and that, in humans, sleeping during the day would not make it work properly.
“Human circadian rhythms are set to a cycle of being awake during the day and sleeping at night., according to Lauren Hablitz, lead author of the study. “People who rely on daytime naps to catch up on sleep, or who work night shifts, are at potential risk for neurological disorders.” According to her, this greatly increases the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Sleeping during the day is bad for your health
People forced to sleep during the day for work reasons face additional health risks. This can lead to psychic disorders, reduced cognitive performance, and promote obesity and coronary heart disease. The disruption of the biological rhythm could also contribute to the development of breast cancers. In France, 3.5 million workers are affected by night work.
