Sleeping on your side — instead of your back or stomach — may offer potential protection against Alzheimer’s disease, a surprising new study suggests.

Side sleeping may more effectively remove waste material from the brain, which in turn helps to reduce the chances of developing dementia and other neurological diseases, Medical Express reports.

Researchers at Stony Brook University used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the brain's complex system of clearing wastes and other harmful chemicals during sleep. The buildup of such materials — including amyloid β (amyloid) and tau proteins — is believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease said the researchers.

But the study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found side sleeping is the best position for removing the wastes from the brain. In humans and many animals the lateral sleeping position is the most common one.

"The analysis showed us consistently that [waste removal] was most efficient in the lateral position when compared to the supine or prone positions," said researcher Helene Benveniste, M.D.