Clinical Trial Evaluating the Impact of Sleep and Sleep Deprivation on the Cerebral Glymphatic System
Abstract
The goals of this project are to carry out studies to determine if the volume of Virchow-Robin spaces (VRs) is larger during sleep than during wakefulness, and if the VRs volume differs between the nonREM and REM sleep states.Pilot data consisting of a quantitative assessment of VRs volume during sleep vs. wake from healthy study participants will be obtained. Because VRs volume reflects the volume of the interstitial space, quantitative assessment of VRs in sleep vs. wake will allow the team to determine whether the glymphatic system described in mice follows similar sleep-wake dynamics in humans. If so, this would have profound implications for ourunderstanding of one of the core functions of sleep.This study has the potential to shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning cognitive deficits associated with acute and chronic sleep loss, situations often unavoidable in the military. A better understanding of the basic functions of sleep and themechanisms by which lack of sleep impairs waking cognitive performance would allow future development of countermeasures for situations in which operational demands limit the opportunity to sleep.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 26, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141512408
Entities
People
- Charles Czeisler
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy