Physical Activity, Sleep and Brain Health Based on the Glymphatic System

The glymphatic system was discovered in 2013 as a brain mechanism for the elimination of protein waste in the central nervous system. Scientific findings indicate that an abnormality in this system involves a slow accumulation of protein waste, neurological inflammation, leaks in the blood-brain barrier, and finally neuronal degeneration due to the progressive loss of neurons in the central nervous system. Brain fluid dynamics, particularly those related to cerebrospinal fluid, have been shown to play an important role in brain health and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The Glymphometer is a device that allows the evaluation of brain health in a novel way, as it allows the monitoring of brain fluid dynamics and could allow early detection of abnormalities in the glymphatic system. This technology makes it easy to monitor brain health and allows you to set actions for a healthier lifestyle. It also makes it possible to monitor the effectiveness of emerging therapies to avoid or reduce the risk of neurological diseases. In the long term, this could allow for more cost-effective prevention tools. This device has been used in numerous research projects and is also closely related to other projects funded by the European Commission currently underway such as Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND). The data generated by these wearable devices will also be useful for healthcare systems as such data can be collected in other situations such as during sleep, exercise or at work. These devices will be used both at the diagnostic level and also to monitor the impact of neurological therapies, allowing for more personalized treatments. The Glymphometer has previously been used in studies that have looked at the impact of stress on brain health. Physical activity and exercise are other lifestyle factors that have an influence on brain health, as shown by preclinical studies and recent reviews on the glymphatic system, and have been proposed as preventive therapy and treatment for dementia due to their impact on the glymphatic system. The existing literature shows that lifestyle factors such as sleep, physical activity or stress can be highly relevant to brain health, but there is not enough scientific evidence based on continuous measurements of how they affect it.

Inclusion criteria

• Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree from one of the universities participating in the study.
• Students who consent to participate in the study indicating that they have been informed of all relevant aspects of the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Students under the age of 18.
• Students with cognitive or sensory difficulties or with insufficient command of the language that, in the opinion of the recruiting professional, makes it difficult to understand the questions raised in the surveys, scales or instruments used in the study.
• Who are participating at the time of recruitment in a clinical trial or experimental study. Participation in observational studies will not be an exclusion criterion