A team of researchers from Kuwait has revealed that even a single sleepless night can negatively affect the human immune system. Their study focused on monocytes – key cells responsible for fighting inflammation – which exhibited changes after just one night without sleep. These alterations closely mirror those observed in individuals suffering from obesity.
The research found a marked increase in non-classical monocytes, which are highly responsive to inflammatory signals, among both overweight participants and those who experienced sleep deprivation. Based on these findings, the scientists suggest that a lack of sleep may contribute to the development of inflammatory conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The team plans to continue investigating the relationship between sleep quality and immune function, as previous studies – including warnings from Australian researchers – have linked chronic sleep deprivation and high blood pressure to declines in cognitive abilities and an increased risk of dementia.
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