The first detailed map of the human brain's plumbing system has finally been drawn, revealing exactly how the brain drains its metabolic waste.
Doctors believed for over a century that the human brain lacked a traditional lymphatic system to clear out trash. New research has identified a network of lymphatic vessels that run right alongside the major arteries and veins of the skull. This sewer system is responsible for hauling away the proteins and waste products that build up during a day of thinking. When these pipes get clogged, it can lead to the buildup of toxic plaques seen in Alzheimer's and other diseases. Understanding this physical drainage system provides a new way to look at how we treat brain aging and injury.
Brain Vascular Structures Contribute to the Outflow of Lymphatic Vessels in the Human
SSRN · 6717568
The brain lymphatic system clears metabolic waste from neural tissue, maintains extracellular fluid homeostasis, and supports brain function. Its dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative disorders and neuroinflammation. Thus, lymphatic efflux is essential for brain physiology. This study evaluated the superficial and deep vascular structures involved in extracranial lymphatic drainage of the human brain.Bottom of FormImmunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot analyses were used to ident