Research may improve brain waste removal in aging

As people age, their brains struggle to remove waste, which may lead to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have found a way to boost the brain's waste management system by improving the vessels that drain fluid from the brain. This strategy has shown promise in improving memory in older mice. The study, published on March 21 in the journal Cell, explores new potential treatments for age-related cognitive decline. Conventional medications often have difficulty reaching the brain due to the blood-brain barrier. By focusing on drainage vessels outside the brain, the researchers hope to create more effective therapies. Jonathan Kipnis, a leading researcher in the study, emphasizes the importance of the lymphatic system for brain health. Over the past ten years, his team has studied how these vessels help remove waste and fluid from the brain. They discovered that some treatments for Alzheimer's work better when combined with therapies that improve drainage. In the study, researchers tested memory in older mice using a simple object recognition task. They found that mice whose lymphatic systems were treated to enhance drainage performed better in remembering the new object. This suggests that a healthy lymphatic system is crucial for maintaining memory as we age. The research also revealed that when waste builds up, the brain's immune cells get overwhelmed and can signal distress, leading to further cognitive decline. By boosting vessel function, the treatment reduced the distress signals in the brain and improved memory. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of targeting the brain's lymphatic vessels to support cognitive health in aging individuals. The researchers believe this approach could open new avenues for treating neurological disorders in the future.