A mechanism linking sleep with CSF‐to‐Blood toxins clearance

Cranio-spinal CSF oscillations are driven by the momentary difference between arterial inflow and venous outflow. Breathing modulates the CSF oscillation through changes in the venous outflow. The amount of toxins being transferred to the spinal canal during each respiratory cycle is significantly increased during slow and deeper abdominal breathing, which explains enhanced CSF-to-blood toxins clearance during slow-wave sleep and poor clearance during disrupted sleep.