Sleep and the Glymphatic System: Exploring the Brain’s Nighttime Cleansing Process
For much of my life, I viewed sleep as a passive, routine part of the day—something that simply happened without much thought or effort. That perspective shifted dramatically after a period of illness, during which certain medications disrupted my sleep patterns. Since the onset of COVID-19, I’ve experienced persistent nighttime wakefulness and, at times, a heightened state of daytime arousal followed by an inability to fall or stay asleep. It reminded me of a period nearly 30 years ago, particularly when I was taking certain antidepressants. The sleep disturbance soon evolved into something more profound. In addition to physical discomfort, I began experiencing persistent cognitive fog. I struggled to concentrate, had frequent lapses in short-term memory, and found it increasingly difficult to process new information. Multitasking was no longer possible, and even basic conversations became mentally exhausting. These changes left me questioning: Could this be the early onset of dement...