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/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience 13d ago

They boosted the lymphatic system by using an experimental treatment that causes the brain to overexpress vascular endothelial growth factor. The increase in this factor then causes the expansion and growth of lymphatic vessels. This treatment is not possible in people. 

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u/illegalcheese 13d ago

Interesting. I've only ever learned about VEGF in conjunction with angiogenesis, but I guess it makes sense it'd affect lymph vessels too.

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u/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience 13d ago

Yeah I was curious about this too. Looks like they targeted VEGF-C, so there may be different types of VEGF that are more or less involved in vascular endothelium vs. lymph endothelium. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38442272/

Edit: also this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vascular_endothelial_growth_factor