Increasing drainage to save the brain

Researchers at Keck's School of Medicine at USC are looking at a compound (Piezo1) which increases the diameter of lymphatic vessels which drain the brain of toxins and metabolites.  Dr. Young-Kwon Hong has discovered a potential breakthrough which may help those with diseases of neurodegeneration. 

Hong’s team theorized that they could speed up the draining of fluid and waste from the brain. “Think about a kitchen sink that’s draining too slowly because it has a two-inch pipe,” he said. “We can give you a four-inch pipe.” Hong and his team first developed the idea of manually stimulating the drainage process, and then they developed a compound that triggers an increase in the diameter of the lymphatic vessels. Hong’s research was published in Nature Neuroscience in March of this year, and he and his team continue to move forward with this exciting development.

https://keck.usc.edu/news/usc-researcher-discovers-drug-that-may-delay-onset-of-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-disease-and-treat-hydrocephalus/

Here is the published research in Nature.

Piezo1 regulates meningeal lymphatic vessel drainage and alleviates excessive CSF accumulation

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01604-8

Adequate lymphatic drainage of the brain is essential for brain health. 

Here is a wonderful review of the research from Glasgow-- this area of study is just beginning, but there are links to be found in impaired (g)lymphatic drainage and MS.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221103482400035X

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system, resulting in demyelination and an array of neurological manifestations. Recently, there has been significant scientific interest in the glymphatic system, which operates as a waste-clearance system for the brain. This article reviews the existing literature, and explores potential links between the glymphatic system and MS, shedding light on its evolving significance in the context of MS pathogenesis. The authors consider the pathophysiological implications of glymphatic dysfunction in MS, the impact of disrupted sleep on glymphatic function, and the bidirectional relationship between MS and sleep disturbances. By offering an understanding of the intricate interplay between the glymphatic system and MS, this review provides valuable insights which may lead to improved diagnostic techniques and more effective therapeutic interventions.