Research revealing how the brain flushes waste named STAT Madness Editors’ Pick

Summary: Dr. Maiken Nedergaard won a big award for her amazing research on how the brain cleans itself. She studies the "glymphatic system," which is like the brain's plumbing. To do this, she actually cuddled lab mice for weeks so they felt safe enough to sleep naturally while she looked at their brains!

She found that when we are in a deep sleep, our brain pumps fluid to wash away bad proteins and toxins. If this trash builds up over time, it can lead to brain diseases like Alzheimer's. She also discovered that some sleeping pills might help you sleep, but they actually stop this important cleaning pump from working. Soon, doctors might use a new test called a "glymphogram" to see if a person's brain is cleaning itself properly!

For more details, see statnews at statnews.com/2026/04/07/research-on-how-brain-flushes-waste-named-stat-madness-editors-pick/?utm_campaign=rss (opens in new tab)