Can You Die from Lack of Sleep?

Sleep deprivation has multiple consequences beyond tiredness and cognitive impairment, as illustrated in this series of studies in flies and mice.

Keeping flies awake for 10 days by various methods resulted in premature death and was associated with accumulation in the gut of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which were associated with widespread DNA damage and cell death; results were similar in mice. In sleep-deprived flies, these trends were reversed by 15 days of recovery sleep, some antioxidants, or induction of gut (but not nervous system) antioxidant enzymes. Changes in activity, food intake, and weight did not explain these effects.