COOL FACT: Did you know you’ve got just as many glial cells as neurons in your brain?

Most people have never heard of them. Neurons get all the credit: they fire the “sparks” that let you think, feel, and remember. But glial cells are the ones who decide which of those “sparks” stay alive.

They do this through synaptic pruning. Think of glial cells as gardeners: trimming back weak or unused connections so the stronger ones can flourish. That’s why you remember your first kiss or the smell of your grandmother’s kitchen: those connections were chosen to stay.

And while you sleep, glial cells shift into high gear. In deep sleep, the space between brain cells expands by about 60%. This creates room for fluid to wash through and clear away toxins. A nightly cleanse, directed by glial cells.

When they do their job, you learn, adapt, and grow. When they fail, the results are serious: too much pruning is linked to schizophrenia, too little to Alzheimer’s.

Every memory you hold onto exists because glial cells decided it was worth keeping.

👉 How to help your glial cells thrive:

• Sleep deeply: glial cells are busiest at night, clearing waste and sculpting memories
• Move your body: exercise boosts glial activity and helps create new brain connections
• Eat omega-3s: fatty fish, walnuts, or supplements strengthen the myelin that glial cells build
• Keep learning: mental challenge encourages glial support of new synapses

👉 What messes them up:

• Chronic stress: high cortisol weakens glial support
• Processed sugar: junk food triggers inflammation in glial cells
• Sleep deprivation: blocks their clean-up and pruning role
• Environmental toxins: heavy metals and pollution overburden them

Poll time: let’s make this fun!

Engaging with new information is a workout for your glial cells. Every time you reflect, choose, or answer a question, you’re strengthening the very connections they help keep.

So here it is: