This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Came across this the other day in my travels,
During Deep Sleep, SWS pattern, the brain cells shrink up to 60% activity levels slow right down, but blood flow is maintained and ATP levels in brain goes up, a large part of this action is to perform a cleaning process in the brain to flush out waste metabolites & debris.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glymphatic_system
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/stor ... fm?id=3956
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/stor ... fm?id=3584

Reinforces the importance of good sleep to the healing process, I suspect there is a connection to MS & other chronic diseases.

Also interested in peoples sleep patterns & experiences.
I know sleep is a problem for many with MS, still need to go through old posts, but flicking around the net found this blog, just a short text on his sleep experiences:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/t ... -ms-sleep/

Is his experience very typical for others?
Am very interested in sleep topic at present, putting together some thoughts in my head.

The brain’s glymphatic pathway clears waste, especially during sleep.

Sleeping in the lateral position could prove to be the best position for the brain-waste clearance process.

http://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2015-08 ... brain.html

Hi,

For what ever it's worth, I found that taking a high dose of Q10 before bed really improved the quality of my sleep. As it is a mainstay of ATP recycling then that would fit with the comments above. The other thing I have been using recently is a subclinical dose of baclofen which is only supposed to bind to the GABA beta receptor. Only 5mg makes my sleep really deep. Neither one is a knock out drop but it's doing something.
I also agree that sleep is critical so I always goes to bed around the same time whether I'm tired or not as it seems to prep my body that sleep is the next thing on the agenda.

Regards

Hi Caveman,
This has been a huge interest for me, and I've been blogging on sleep and the brain for a few years now.

Earlier this year I met with Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, discoverer of the (g)lymphatic drainage system, in her lab at the University of Rochester, to discuss this research. I was hoping to get her interested in looking at the vascular connection to diseases of neurodegeneration--since the lymphatic system drains through the venous system. The newly discovered lymphatic vessels in the brain also point to the connection. She's very interested in studying how restricted venous return might be affecting lymphatic vessel clearance.

Here's my blog post on this visit in April--and her thoughts on things to aid sleep.
http://ccsviinms.blogspot.com/2015/04/g ... gaard.html

New research this week from the Dr. Nedergaard and others--position matters. Side, or lateral, sleeping position aids lymphatic clearance. Something to consider.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/sleeping-p ... -1.2504828


cheer

I don't exclude the possibility that the urgency to urinate is a protective reaction.
I have to get out of the bed on average 3 x during the night to pee.
Now when I get upright supposingly that will do something with the brain's (g)lymphatic system, with gravity to help clear the system.
It is just a thought... but for me also a reason to keep away from bladder suppressive medication.

Hi All
Ok so this is very interesting now that lymph system is connected to the brain.
Speaking of another axis now, what does all this mean for those of us who use inclined sleeping to help with drainage etc. Since the lymph system does not have its own "pumps" per se, should we be better off sleeping inclined or not? Should we stay on the level so normal bodily movement etc can help drain our brain at night. Maybe the system and its valves etc work better with a bit of back pressure. I would be interested to know what everyone thinks, it is early days for all this.
Thanks
Scotland

Hello Scotland,
My personal experience found the inclined bed to be a very bad idea because my lower back "collapsed" into the spine and/or the cerebrospinal fluid to the point I could hardly walk. Once the Osteopath had rectified the situation, I could walk normally (with a cane) again, but I think I actually injured myself. I may have used an inferior mattress, but I'll never try that again. Regards, Vesta

Hi Scotland---

Dr. Nedergaard is looking at how sleep position aids the drainage of lymph, via these vessels. The first study published is showing that lying on the side (in the lateral position) is better than stomach or back sleeping for aiding drainage. This first study did not include any incline.

Sure enough, technologies called fluorescence microscopy and radioactive tracing that gave the team a view of the glymphatic pathway revealed increased efficiency when the rodents slept on their sides.

Dr. Nedergaard says the results of the study serve as further proof that sleep serves a waste-eliminating function.
"Many types of dementia are linked to sleep disturbances, including difficulties in falling asleep," she says, suggesting that such disorders may be linked in some way to brain waste not being properly eliminated. "It is increasingly acknowledged that these sleep disturbances may accelerate memory loss in Alzheimer's disease."
Body posture and sleep quality should be assessed in humans as the scientific community begins to lay the groundwork for further research that could enrich our knowledge of these brain diseases, says Dr. Benveniste.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/sleeping-p ... -1.2504828

This makes sense in the CCSVI paradigm, where open and flowing venous return is best in the lateral position, when the head and veins are aligned with the spine. We already know that stomach sleeping is not good for cerebral blood flow and return to the heart. Position matters, but inclined bed isn't necessary if there is adequate jugular flow.

cheer

Dr. Oz sez sleeping on right side reduces load on the heart since it is on top.

Gut bacteria are about 1000 species which live in symbiosis with humans, and we're not even bothering to sequence their DNA. With antibiotics we wipe them out, until we can get them back. High fibre diet helps the gut.

BTW I seem to be regaining some core strength through exercise.

It makes sense that brain flushing is required, messed up when we are sleepless, and also when neck veins are stenosed. The areas that are flushed, during waking, carry O2 and glucose to brain tissue. But if not flushed all kinds of gunk builds up, hindering the food and oxygen.

Do crossword puzzles make you sleep better? Sudoku?

Sit-to-stand and vice versa core strengthening:
From a chair that is not so low that you have to use your hands to get up, sit forward on front edge of chair with feet flat on floor. Cross arms. Engage core. Belly button as close to spine as possible. Back straight. Stand. Sit, without falling back. Do this at least 10X / day. I have been doing this and now have far less trouble getting in and out of low recumbent tricycle.

Also my impression is, biotin is working. On 4th month.