Lack Of Sleep May Cause Brain To Shrink

It looks like insomniacs have another worry to keep them from sleeping at night. Scientists have now tied chronic insomnia to lower grey matter in areas of the brain that control decision making and the body’s ability to rest. Not being able to sleep changes the function of the brain, and now studies show that it may even cut down on brain matter itself. Scientists found through brain scans of chronic insomnia patients and normal sleepers that the insomniac patients displayed widespread brain density loss the longer they’ve been unable to sleep. Scientists also found that lack of sleep compromised the stimuli of the brain and could have a profound effect on the way the restless make choices and act in their daily lives.

Studies have always shown that insomnia has been somewhat tied to the malfunctions of the brain and behavior changes, but this new study sheds light on what is actually happening. Less grey matter caused by lack of sleep now shows insomnia to be more than a psychological annoyance and to be more of a neurological problem. However, researchers are still not completely sure if insomnia is causing a lack of grey matter in the brain or if a lack of grey matter in the brain is causing insomnia. Nevertheless, these new studies may be able to help find a treatment to deal with chronic insomnia which would allow millions of people to finally get some well deserved rest.