Sleeping positions may reduce risk of Alzheimer

A new research suggests that a certain sleep position might improve the body's ability to eliminate an Alzheimer causing protein.

Christian Holscher of the Lancaster University said that a protein called 'amyloid' builds up in the brain in Alzheimer's, the Express News reported.

The American researchers used MRI scans to study the complex system that clears waste from the brain.

The analysis showed that in rats the clearance mechanism known as the glymphatic pathway was most effective in the lateral position compared to sleeping on the back or stomach.

The study gave further weight to the concept that sleep could clean up the mess that accumulates while we are awake.

Researchers found the removal of amyloid was most efficient in the lateral position and the exciting results are considered so significant that the theory will now be tested in human trials.

According to the study, a sleep position might improve the body's ability to flush out this protein, which could slow down or prevent the development of Alzheimer's.

Holscher said that sleeping on your side was an easy thing to do and could help in getting rid of the unwanted amyloid.