Maiken Nedergaard Elected to National Academy of Medicine for Pioneering Brain Research

University of Rochester Medicine neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard, MD, DMSc, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in health and medicine. She is being recognized for her groundbreaking discovery of the glymphatic system, which has reshaped scientists’ understanding of how the brain clears waste and the critical role sleep plays in maintaining brain health.

Maiken Nedergaard, MD, DMSc

The National Academy of Medicine cited Nedergaard for “transforming neuroscience and medicine by discovering the glymphatic system, revealing sleep-dependent brain waste clearance. Her work redefined the biological purpose of sleep and established impaired brain clearance as a unifying mechanism in neurodegeneration, stroke, trauma, and chronic neurological disease, opening new therapeutic pathways.”

More than 14 years ago, Nedergaard and her colleagues discovered that the brain has a unique waste-clearance system that relies on the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through spaces surrounding blood vessels and into brain tissue. Primarily active during sleep, this process flushes away waste products that accumulate during wakefulness. Her research has opened new avenues for understanding and potentially treating a range of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Nedergaard’s work has also changed how she thinks about her own sleep. We asked her how her research has influenced her daily routines, what has surprised her most about the science of sleep, and what advice she has for protecting brain health.

How has your research changed the way you think about your own sleep?

My research has completely changed how I view sleep. Like most people, I appreciate waking up after a good night’s sleep. But I also understand that sleep is an active biological state, not simply a period of rest. During sleep, blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid work together in ways that help the brain clear waste products that accumulate during wakefulness. Knowing how important this process is reinforces for me that sleep is essential to brain health.

What does a typical night look like for you?

I sleep best when I don’t have outstanding tasks hanging over me. So, before bed, I often answer emails, arrange meetings, or edit a manuscript. Having taken care of these tasks and feeling on top of my work helps me relax.

I also try to maintain a reasonably regular sleep schedule. I’m not perfect about any of this, but I think consistency is probably more valuable than following an elaborate bedtime routine. The brain responds strongly to predictable patterns of light, activity, meals, and sleep, so maintaining a regular schedule can help support healthy sleep.

What was the most surprising thing you learned when you began studying sleep?

The greatest surprise was discovering how much fluid moves through the mouse brain during sleep—and how rapidly that process changes when the mice wake up. I was also struck by how consistent the process was from one mouse to another. In our studies of disease models, we often see considerable variability, but sleep-related changes were surprisingly predictable. It revealed just how fundamental this process is to the brain.

How do you manage jet lag and changes in your sleep schedule?

There is no perfect solution to jet lag because the brain’s internal clock, which regulates our daily sleep-wake cycle, cannot immediately adjust to a new time zone. When I travel, I try to avoid flights that require an early start, and I often choose an overnight flight when traveling to Europe. The airport here in Rochester is always remarkably busy before 6:00 am, and I cannot help but wonder how much sleep all those travelers sacrificed just to begin their journey.

Once I arrive, I try to stay awake until a normal bedtime in the new time zone, even if I’m tired, and follow the same schedule the following days. Sleeping in the middle of the day may provide temporary relief, but it usually prolongs jet lag by delaying the adjustment of the internal clock.

What is the single most important piece of advice you would give people for protecting their sleep and brain health?

Protect sufficient, regular sleep as seriously as you protect your nutrition and physical activity. Sleep is not an optional pause; it is an essential biological process that helps maintain brain health and allows us to function at our best during the day. Research suggests that sleep disturbances may also be associated with an increased risk of dementia, although we are still working to understand the relationship. Sleep deserves to be a priority, not something we sacrifice whenever life gets busy.