Just some info on the issue being discussed.

The global consequences of sleep deprivation have been extensively studied in the past. A 2010 study, called effects of sleep deprivation on cognition, indicates that inadequate sleep can result in decreased every-day performance, reduced cognitive capacity and may even trigger emotional changes.

Meanwhile, a 2006 study, called changes in brain gene expression after long-term sleep deprivation, sought to understand some of the genetic alterations that occur in sleep-deprived rodents. The authors found that sleep deprivation provoked unfavorable inflammatory and stress responses in the cerebral cortex within the brains of tested animals.

Aside from this, an array of scientific studies have suggested a link between poor sleeping patterns and a host of common health conditions, including:

Impaired digestion
Reduction in growth hormones
Depression and altered sex-drive
Poor attention span and working memory
Obesity
Elevated blood pressure

Sleep Deprivation May Hammer Brain Cell Numbers [Video]