Course Content
Sleep Well Coach Training
About Lesson

The concept of the glymphatic system is relatively new and has been found to promote efficient elimination of proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system. These products are potentially toxic and if not cleared could contribute to pathology in neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury and stroke.

The glymphatic system can be thought of as the lymphatic system for the brain; as the lymph in the body removes waste so the glymphatic system removes waste in the brain and central nervous system by washing the brain with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is a clear fluid found in the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord of all vertebrates.

Interestingly the glymphatic system functions whilst we sleep and is switched off whilst awake. We, therefore, need to sleep to remove the toxins which build up in our brain over the course of a day, emphasising the importance of sleep.