Iliff hypothesizes that a faulty glymphatic system may bear the blame for the over-accumulation of proteins seen in Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's and other neurodegenerative disorders—and further study may even reveal a way to dispose of these clumps.

Jaleel Miyan, a neurobiologist at the University of Manchester in England who did not participate in this research, stressed the significance of this finding by characterizing the analogy with the lymphatic system as inadequate: "What they have demonstrated is actually far more extensive and important to CSF [cerebrospinal fluid] biology." The study clarifies discrepancies in past research and may lead to a better understanding of the functioning of the glymphatic system as a possible cleanser of the neural toxins that inevitably accrete and do damage as we age.

7 Comments

1. 1. bucketofsquid 05:21 PM 8/17/12

   How soon do they test on a higher life form such as chimps or humans?

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2. 2. singing flea in reply to bucketofsquid 12:49 PM 8/21/12

   You are assuming chimps and humans are a higher form of life.
   
   All kidding aside, this study demonstrates that neurodegenerative disorders are treatable with gene therapy. I always understood these degenerative diseases were caused by a slow destruction of brain cells which could not regenerate as quickly as they failed. This sheds a whole new light on the problem. It is more like a slow acting pollution problem for the individual cells. It should be merely a matter of time before a discovery that would reverse the build up of this brain plaque in the first place.
   

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3. 3. American Muse 08:46 PM 8/27/12

   Fascinating!

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4. 4. CYMCHA in reply to singing flea 10:10 PM 9/1/12

   Since the pollutant seems to be excess protein perhaps we should decrease the amount and or types of protein we eat?

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5. 5. SamMaclaren22 02:53 PM 11/19/12

   Does anyone know what kind of<a href="http://www.storkpickerservices.ca/en/">waste </a>this would produce.

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6. 6. Brain Body Balance 10:47 AM 2/5/13

   I sincerely believe that by following this article which refers on “how our brain clean itself” will help you to prevent diseases such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. You can also see “http://selfhelptechniques.com/self-help-techniques/can-chakra-balancing-tapping-technique-clean-your-body-and-brain-space" This site can also help you.

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7. 7. cshap 04:11 PM 5/20/13

   This is fascinating to me. I am still in the process of diagnosis but my father was diagnosed w/ ALS and then nine months later they re-diagnosed him w/ Multi-focal Motor Neuropathy. His father had early-onset alzheimer's. His sisters have lymphoma and amyloidosis. In light of the above article, this is very interesting to me as I've always wondered the connection between the "blood cancers" and the "neuro" issues in my family - I currently have nerve issues going on but have often wondered if it's lymphoma too... and I had a large "clump" on the top of my left hand... been having nerve issues in my left side. Anyway, I'm going to forward this on to my family as the connection between the two systems is fascinating in light of my family's genetic makeup and current health issues.

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