r/science • u/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience • 13d 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/
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u/chessmasterjj 13d ago edited 13d 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. 

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u/Penguings 13d ago

Not sure specifically related to this article- but there are lymph nodes in your neck and armpits. Massaging these areas regularly apparently improves circulation- but I’m sure there is more written out there than this; also not sure if applies to brain lymphatic system.

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u/enyxi 13d ago

It's really interesting, and we only discovered the glymphatic system relatively recently. It's similar to those lymph nodes, but the glymphatic system works on sleep rather than movement for circulation.