In the course of their research, American scientists studied the brain activity and behavior of fruit flies. Although insects are very different from humans, their neurons that control sleep-wake cycles are remarkably similar to ours. For this reason, these flies are often used in laboratory research related to sleep. Scientists have studied one particular stage of sleep, when flies exhibit an enlarged proboscis. This phase is very similar to the deep sleep phase in humans. The authors of the new work found that during this phase, the flies repeatedly pulled and retracted the proboscis. Dr. Ravi Allada, senior author of the study, explained that this movement moves fluids in the body to a system similar to the human kidneys, making it easier to remove waste materials and help repair injuries. When the researchers disrupted the deep sleep of the flies, they found that it became more difficult for the insects to flush out toxins during the day, and that the flies became more sensitive if injured. Dr. Allada says that the body of a living creature is able to cleanse itself both during the day and at night, however, as research has shown, this process is more active during deep sleep. The authors hope that their results will encourage people to take better care of their sleep, because during the detoxification process, the body also gets rid of beta-amyloids, which can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Deep sleep can be the key to maintaining brain health, as it helps the body eliminate harmful substances more efficiently.
