r/science • u/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience • 14d ago

Neuroscience Boosting brain’s waste removal system improves memory in old mice | Researchers found that rejuvenating the lymphatic vessels in the brain enhanced recognition memory and restored synaptic function through an interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway.

https://medicine.washu.edu/news/boosting-brains-waste-removal-system-improves-memory-in-old-mice/
8.3k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

242 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.4k

u/chessmasterjj 14d ago edited 14d ago

How do we clean out our brain of waste? 

Edit: Just says they boosted the lymphatic system of the mice, doesn't say how. If you give "strengthen lymphatic system" a Goog you get physical exercise, hydration and healthy diet. 

1.2k

u/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience 14d ago

Adequate sleep and exercise are two good ways to improve lymphatic drainage.

743

u/livens 14d ago

Exercise, it's always exercise.

79

u/roguealex 14d ago

Exercise and sleep*

70

u/___Snoobler___ 14d ago

Why can't they put the effects of exercise and sleep into a pill, patch, or suppository? In all seriousness that'd be pretty great.

6

u/shellofbiomatter 14d ago

Id just take the sleeping pill, i like to exercise and wouldn't want to lose that, but really don't like sleeping.

7

u/[deleted] 14d ago

How does doing exercise not make you tired? When I do a workout I can’t fight the exhaustion when 9pm hits and I’m in bed and sleep like a rock until the sun comes out.

6

u/shellofbiomatter 14d ago edited 14d ago

Eventually i do get physically tired or weak, but not sleepy. Probably something similar to runners high or maybe adrenaline kicking in and it takes some time for it to wear off. After a workout i don't feel tiredness, I'm just weak. It takes some time for tiredness to kick in, but that does feel good.

Though it does improve sleep, i just don't like to waste time on sleeping or any aspect of sleep.

3

u/[deleted] 14d ago

Aryou on any sort of PEDs? It was my understanding sleep was an absolute necessity for recovery and progress. If that’s true I don’t know how someone could make progress with trying to avoid sleep.

6

u/shellofbiomatter 14d ago edited 14d ago

Not yet, just therapeutic dose of TRT due to other life issues.

But yeah you are completely right, sleep is very important for recovery and gym performance and I don't avoid sleep, i just don't like it or its necessity.