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Thanks to the glymphatic system, your brain cleanses itself of waste products overnight.

Participants installed an app that blocked mobile internet while still allowing calls and texts.

A man wearing a grey tshirt sitting on bed of bed in beige room with his head in his hands as he struggles with anxiety and depression and sleep.

After cutting off their internet access, 91% of participants improved in at least one measure of health.

How does poor sleep age the brain?

Poor sleep impacts many processes in the brain.

A woman laying awake at night with arms overhead

A2022 studyby British researchers shows this can lead to changes in brain structure like reduced gray matter volume.

How else does poor sleep affect brain health?

Alongside accelerating brain aging, lack of sleep also causes more immediate, noticeable cognitive problems.

A blonde woman wearing a blue t-shirt and pink eye mask on her forehead with messy bun sitting in bed as she stretches her arms overhead, waking up early to join the 5am club

You’re probably aware of how you feel irritable after a bad night’s sleep.

Additionally, poor sleep is known to exacerbate mental health problems likeanxiety and depression.

Anotherstudy published by the National Institutes of Healthlinked insufficient sleep earlier in life to later dementia risk.

A woman lying on her side sleeping with a handdrawn thought bubble over her head to show she�s thinking

Acalming nighttimeroutine can help you establish this schedule.

Sleep in ideal conditions

Temperature and light are two of the main stimuli for the circadian rhythm.

If you tend to sleep hot, one of this year’sbest cooling mattresseswill help keep you cool.

A woman scrolls on her phone in bed during the middle of the night

Light boosts energy levels in the day, benefitting your circadian rhythm.

A woman lies in bed with her hands covering her face, looking upset due to sleep deprivation. A Tom�s Guide Sleep Week 2025 graphic, bottom left

A man sleeping on his side in bed with wooden headboard and bedside table with alarm clock showing time as clocks go back

The image shows a sleep deprived woman lying in bed and holding her hands over her eyes

A chocolate Easter egg in pink tin foil next to image of blonde woman in purple star patterned pyjamas struggling to sleep in bed with white sheets

Woman lying down on the bed and smiling feeling comfortable

A woman with dark brown hair lies on her side staring at the back of a white alarm clock that shows the time as 2.30am

A woman with short brown hair sitting on bed with white sheets with a glass of green Spirulina smoothie in hand

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