Randomized Trialhigh evidence
Sleep deprivation increases levels of the synaptic density marker SV2A in the human brain.
PLoS biology·June 1, 2026·PMID 42335020
Why it mattersSynaptic homeostasis is a fundamental process linking sleep to cognitive function and brain health. This study provides the first in vivo human evidence that sleep deprivation acutely upregulates synaptic density markers, offering a potential biomarker for sleep pressure and a target for interventions aimed at optimizing cognitive performance and recovery.
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