Brain Waste-Clearance System Shown in People for First Time
Image 1: shows a brain MRI of one of five individuals reported in the study.
Piantino lab, Oregon Health & Science University, PNAS
Image 2: is derived from enhancing the first image.
Piantino lab, Oregon Health & Science University, PNAS
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in health by removing waste from the bloodstream and transporting immune cells. More recently, a similar system of waste clearance in the brain has been described, termed the "glymphatic" system.
Recently, a study from Oregon Health & Science University showed that cerebrospinal fluid flows into the brain through distinct channels called perivascular spaces and then into the brain tissue, a discovery that aligns with the glymphatic system described in mice.
The glymphatic system ramps up during sleep, suggesting sleep may be important for clearance of waste products that contribute to neurodegenerative disease.
