Here's one more reason why getting a good night's sleep is critical to your health. As neuroscientist Jeff Iliff, PhD, explains in this just released TEDMED video, the brain has a specialized waste-disposal system that's only active when we're slumbering. Watch the talk above to learn how this system clears the brain of toxic metabolic byproducts that could lead to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.
Previously: Why sleeping in on the weekends may not be beneficial to your health, The high price of interrupted sleep on your health and Examining how sleep quality and duration affect cognitive function as we age