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

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

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u/Dedsnotdead 13d ago

I remember seeing a video of a scan of someone in REM. The brain was flushing/washing itself with cerebrospinal fluid whilst the person being scanned was asleep.

First stage was blood draining from the brain and then the fluid washed in and out in waves to clear some of the accumulated “debris?”.

Our bodies are incredible.

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/cerebrospinal-fluid-washing-in-brain-during-sleep/

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u/LostWoodsInTheField 13d ago

First time I saw that I was a bit sad for myself. My sleep is horrible and all the various stuff I've done hasn't done a good job of fixing that issue (including doctors).

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u/roidmonko 13d ago

Check out the YouTube channel 'the sleep coach school.' The guy also has a book if you prefer. It was the only thing that worked for me.

Also cardio fixes a lot of the issues caused by sleep deprivation. It's hard to get in the gym or go for a run when your exhausted but it's important