The claim
Lack of sleep can cause the brain to “eat itself”
Rating
Misleading. While sleep deprivation could lead brain disorder including Alzheimer’s, ‘brain eating itself’ is an oversimplification
Reviewed by First Check ↗ ·
Original fact check ↗Original review summary
The review says the claim is based on a 2017 study of mice, which found increased activity in brain cells involved in clearing damaged neurons and waste, including greater removal of synapses in sleep-deprived mice. It says this process is not the brain literally consuming itself, and notes that more research is needed to confirm long-term effects in humans.[S1]
Research date:
Sources and attribution
- [S1] First Check original review
Original review · Retrieved October 15, 2026