According to a report by the BBC on September 4, scientists have discovered a new reason why humans need sleep: Sleep can supplement brain cells.

Dr. Chiara Chireili, from the University of Wisconsin, and her colleagues have found that sleep promotion can produce myelin cells that help protect the brain's neuronal circuits.

Immature oligodendrocytes can produce myelin. The mice's growth rate doubled when they were asleep. In addition, the production of myelin is also affected by genes. In contrast, genes associated with cell death and stress responses were more active when rats were forced to wake up.

Dr. Chireley said: “The difference in the activity of nerve cells during animal awakening and sleep has long been the focus of researchers. It is now clear that when animals are awake and sleeping, the activities of helper cells in the nervous system are also It has changed accordingly."

The researchers also found that lack of sleep may exacerbate multiple sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis can destroy myelin.