Scientists have found a way to 'pressure wash' toxic proteins out of the brain using nothing but carefully timed pulses of carbon dioxide.

The Takeaway

One of the biggest problems with brain injuries and dementia is the buildup of 'trash' proteins like ptau217 that slowly poison neurons. This study shows that making a patient breathe oscillating levels of CO2 actually forces these toxins out of the brain and into the bloodstream where they can be cleared. In tests with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients, this 'brain flush' actually led to immediate, temporary improvements in how well they could think. It’s a non-invasive, drug-free way to physically clean the brain's internal environment. If this can be scaled, it could become a routine 'oil change' for the brain to prevent long-term decay after an injury.