Lost Sleep Could Cause 'Permanent Damage to Brain Cells' Scientists Warn

Study found sleep-deprived mice lost up to 25 per cent of their brain cells

Sleepless nights could prove more damaging than previously thought, after the results of a new study suggested sleep deprivation can lead to a permanent loss of brain cells.

The “disturbing” research found mice experiencing chronic sleep loss saw 25 per cent of their brain cells die, according to research published yesterday in the Journal of Neuroscience. [See http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/12.abstract.pdf for short summary.]

Now, scientists fear humans could suffer the same neuronal injuries – which would also make attempting to ‘catch up’ on missed sleep pointless.