Sleep and Glymphatic System Function

The Center for Sleep and Cognition (CfSC), Sleep and Inflammatory Systems Laboratory, and the Radiology Research Team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) are seeking healthy volunteers for an exploratory study investigating how sleep and acute sleep restriction affects glymphatic clearance of waste in the human brain. The study will take place at the BIDMC campus.

Participants will be asked to complete afternoon nap sessions in the MRI scanner at the BIDMC Radiology Department under conditions of normal sleep and sleep restriction, with simultaneous EEG recording to quantify sleep stages and microstructural features such as slow-wave activity. Using a newly developed MRI protocol sensitive to water exchange across aquaporin channels, we relate glymphatic flow to sleep physiology, cognitive performance, and circulating hormonal and inflammatory markers. The goal of this work is to advance non-invasive methods for measuring glymphatic function and to clarify how sleep supports brain health through waste clearance mechanisms.

To be eligible, subjects must be between the ages of 18 to 35 and must complete a screening session to determine eligibility. The study does have strict medication requirements at this time.