Sleep is the time when essential restorative functions and brain-care activities occur, without external interruptions or distractions.

During sleep, the brain undergoes various processes that are essential for its own health and maintenance. These include the consolidation of memories, removal of waste products (such as beta-amyloid, implicated in Alzheimer's disease), and the repair and growth of neurons and synapses.

Because the brain is a complex network of neurons that communicate through electrical signals, a key determinant of the brain's effectiveness is the strength and synchronization of these neuronal signals. When the electrical impulses within the brain are stronger and more synchronized, communication between different regions becomes more efficient and coherent. Just as a well-orchestrated symphony relies on synchronized musicians for optimal performance, a brain performs better with robust and synchronized neuronal signaling.  Therefore, sleep electrophysiology provides an objective way to assess how well the brain is functioning — i.e. brain health.

In addition, because it occurs during a state of no distraction or sensory inputs, sleep neurophysiology provides an accurate and objective measure of brain health.   

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, often progress slowly over time. Detecting changes in brain signaling at an early stage enables interventions that can slow down or even halt the progression of the neurodegeneration. Behavioral changes (e.g. exercise or nutrition) and better management of health conditions (e.g. sleep apnea, cardio vascular disease or diabetes) can have a profound impact on neurodegeneration — but these interventions need to begin years before symptoms arise.

Early detection of changes in brain signaling is critical because it allows for timely interventions. By identifying and addressing changes in neural signaling early, medical professionals can help patients maintain their cognitive longevity.

While it is well-established that behavioral changes can slow and possibly reverse cognitive decline, people often times need objective data to motivate change.

Most patients aren’t incentive to make those changes — increase exercise, lose weight , reduce alcohol, wear a CPAP. However, when the impact these behaviors on cognitive lifespan are quantified, patients are motivated to make important lifestyle changes.

By quantifying the impact of behaviors on cognitive lifespan and benchmarking neuronal biomarkers against those of healthy cohorts, NeuroInsight provides data to motivate high impact behavioral change.