Kuwaiti researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI) have discovered that just one night of complete sleeplessness or poor sleep can devastate the immune system and exacerbate inflammatory processes in the body. The researchers believe that disrupted sleep is also linked to a range of chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, this connection works both ways: these health issues can also lead to worsened sleep. Until now, the mechanisms underlying these correlations have not been thoroughly studied, according to IFLScience.
Now, the authors of the new study have turned their attention to monocytes—crucial immune system cells—and how sleep quality affects them.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
To explore the relationship between sleep deprivation and changes in monocytes, as well as the link between these changes and inflammatory processes, the team involved 237 healthy volunteers with varying body mass indexes (BMIs) in the first phase of the study. The participants ranged in age from 25 to 39 years.
Over the course of seven days, the scientists collected blood samples to determine monocyte profiles and inflammation markers. Simultaneously, they monitored the volunteers’ diets, physical activity, and sleep patterns.
The researchers found that individuals with obesity had significantly elevated levels of so-called non-classical monocytes, which are responsible for the body’s immune response. This correlated with a substantial decline in sleep quality and an increase in chronic inflammation.
But the most intriguing findings were yet to come: the analysis revealed that sleep disturbances contribute to inflammation regardless of a person’s BMI.
In the next phase of sleep deprivation experiments, five healthy participants with normal weight were subjected to 24 hours without sleep. Throughout this sleepless period, the researchers collected blood samples. The results astonished the team: the monocyte and inflammation marker levels of the volunteers with normal BMI were comparable to those of individuals with obesity.
“This study highlights the importance of sleep quality in regulating immune responses, suggesting that improving sleep quality could reduce inflammation and enhance treatment outcomes,” the scientists noted.
Dr. Fatema Al-Rashid, who led the research, remarked, “The prolonged time spent in front of screens and shifting societal norms increasingly contribute to the disruption of regular sleep patterns. This has profound implications for immune health and overall well-being.”
The team hopes that future research into the relationship between sleep deprivation and immune changes, as well as the exploration of medical interventions that can prevent the harmful effects of insufficient sleep, will lead to new strategies for improving nighttime rest.
Ultimately, this could help combat obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, according to Dr. Al-Rashid.
The findings of the study were published in The Journal of Immunology.