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/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience 13d ago

From the press release:

Aging compromises the lymphatic vessels (green) in tissue called the meninges (blue) surrounding the brain, disabling waste drainage from the brain and impacting cognitive function. Researchers at WashU Medicine boosted lymphatic vessel integrity (bottom) in old mice and found improvements in their memory compared with old mice without rejuvenated lymphatic vessels (top). 

As aging bodies decline, the brain loses the ability to cleanse itself of waste, a scenario that scientists think could be contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have found a way around that problem by targeting the network of vessels that drain waste from the brain. Rejuvenating those vessels, they have shown, improves memory in old mice.

Publication in Cell:

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.02.02200210-7?_returnURL=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867425002107?showall=true)

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u/Mokyzoky 13d ago

Please fix my brain my memory is actually so bad

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u/realitythreek 13d ago

Friend, I recently was diagnosed with ADHD and having a poor memory was a symptom. I’m taking medication for it and my memory has actually improved at 44 rather than gotten worse.

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u/LearningIsTheBest 13d ago

Is there medicine actually in stock for new patients?

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u/realitythreek 13d ago

There’s non-stimulant meds you can take, I’ve not had that issue but I know the stimulant meds can be pretty hard to get. I’m taking Welbutrin but there’s a few others.

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u/LearningIsTheBest 13d ago

Thanks for the suggestion :)