Does sleep position affect brain health?
In 2012, discovered that the brain literally washes itself while you sleep. It is called the glymphatic system, and it uses mitochondria to gather cellular waste from the brain. The cerebrospinal fluid in the brain is what is responsible for receiving and draining that cellular waste, much like how the lymphatic system in other organs is responsible for removing waste from those cells to the kidney and liver. But the brain has no lymph – it has cerebrospinal fluid instead.
The scientists noted that glymphatic system is particularly active during sleep. In other words, as you sleep, your brain is busy sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, and taking out the trash to prepare itself for the next day. That one of the reasons why sleep is so important. But now, scientists have discovered that the lateral (side) position allows the glymphatic systems to work more efficiently. Sleeping in the lateral, or side position, as opposed to sleeping on one’s back or stomach, more effectively removes brain waste. This could also help reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other brain disease according to researchers.