Send us a text

In this holiday edition of The Neuro Collective Podcast, Dr. Michael and May Bagnell, IHP invite you to slow down, settle in, and explore one of the most fascinating discoveries in modern neuroscience: the glymphatic system—your brain’s nighttime detox network.

As part of our Lighting the Way series, this episode dives into how deep, restorative sleep acts as biological medicine, helping your brain clear metabolic waste, reduce inflammation, and protect long-term cognitive health. If you’ve ever struggled with brain fog, poor focus, mood changes, or chronic exhaustion, this conversation may completely change how you view sleep.

You’ll learn:

• Why the glymphatic system only activates during deep sleep
• How slow-wave sleep (N3) supports brain cleansing and renewal
• The surprising link between poor sleep and conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ADHD, and cognitive decline
• Why sleep is one of the most powerful modifiable lifestyle factors for brain health
• How simple shifts—like movement, sleep routines, hydration, and evening rituals—can dramatically improve sleep quality
• The best sleeping position to support optimal brain drainage
• How functional neurology approaches help restore sleep architecture in real patients

Dr. Michael and May also share practical, compassionate insights from the clinic—connecting sleep to gut health, hormones, stress resilience, emotional bandwidth, and nervous system regulation. Through relatable examples and seasonal reflection, they remind us that rest is not a luxury—it’s a built-in reset button available every single night.

As you move through this busy season, we invite you to reflect:

• Where can you create more space for rest?
• What boundary could better protect your peace and sleep?
• What wind-down ritual would truly help your brain let go?

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, forgetful, or depleted, your brain may simply be asking for deeper rest.

 Protect your sleep—and your brain will protect you.

Share this episode with someone who needs more peace this season, and let us know: what’s your biggest sleep challenge right now?

As always, remember: You can heal—and we can help.