StudyFinds.org has published a great review of a recent study on college students. It found that tau protein levels were markedly elevated after a single all-nighter. Tau protein is what leads to Alzheimer's, to put it simply.
"Power Of One: Losing Single Night’s Sleep May Raise Levels Of Alzheimer’s Biomarker"
" UPPSALA, Sweden — The “all-nighter,” in which students stay up all night studying or completing school work, has become synonymous with the modern college experience. While it’s obviously unhealthy to stay up all night frequently, the occasional all-nighter isn’t typically considered detrimental to one’s well being. Now, quite surprisingly, a new study conducted at Uppsala University in Sweden has found some alarming evidence to the contrary. When young, completely healthy men went just one night without sleeping, their blood showed elevated levels of the protein tau, a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. ..."