Excitingly it is a system that functions almost life lymphatic system for the brain. We knew that cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), and the BECF ( brain extra-cellular fluid) is protected by the blood-brain barrier. There are also ventricles in the brain and specialized cells that secrete the CSF (choroid plexus), and there are areas with little protruding hairs/ cilia that help circulate this fluid. The fluid contains high levels of brain energy juice- sodium, glucose, and other needed electrolytes, but it also contains metabolic waste. This new system shows how the flow of CSF through the brain moves through like a current and the removal of extra-cellular waste. Now that scientist can study and measure the effectiveness of the glymphatic pathway It will provide valuable insight into the progression of Alzheimer's Dementia, and other neurological diseases Perhaps this can provide a more accurate picture of the disease, its progression, and possible interventions. Wouldn't it be amazing if we could just ' flush out' build up of these beta amyloid plaques and other disease causing materials? Nano-particle sponges that degrade the plaques or contain it so that it does not damage neurons? I think one day we will have such technology- in the not so distant future. ( The singularity is near!) :)
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referencing article
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67677
"We recently reported that the glymphatic pathway is a key contributor to the clearance of soluble amyloid β from the brain interstitium and proposed that the failure of this clearance might contribute to amyloid plaque deposition and AD progression (6). In light of these findings, there may be great value in the development of a clinical prognostic test for measuring glymphatic pathway function throughout the human brain and evaluating whether suppression of this system contributes to the development and progression of AD. Here we provide proof-of-concept data demonstrating that glymphatic pathway function can be measured using a simple and clinically relevant imaging technique, contrast-enhanced MRI, to visualize brain-wide CSF-ISF exchange."
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