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/
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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. 

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u/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience 14d ago

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

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u/Dedsnotdead 14d 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/alex20_202020 12d ago

I was not so patient to wait until blue wave. After how many minutes does it come on this presumably gif image?