Uncovering the Brain's Waste Removal System: A Key to Understanding Neurodegenerative Disorders

The brain makes a lot of waste. Now scientists think they know where it goes 🔗

The brain appears to rely on synchronized waves to wash out waste products, including toxins associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists have recently discovered the brain's waste removal system, which operates during sleep through slow electrical waves that push fluid from deep within the brain to its surface. This fluid is then absorbed into the bloodstream, allowing waste products to be removed from the body. The system, known as the glymphatic system, plays a crucial role in clearing waste, including amyloid, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease. The findings could lead to a better understanding of and potential treatments for various brain disorders.

The brain's waste removal system operates during sleep through slow electrical waves
The glymphatic system clears waste, including amyloid, from the brain
Impaired waste removal may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease