glymphatic

In 2012, research in the laboratory of Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Center,  identified what appears to be the brain’s waste clearance pathway, the glymphatic (glial-lymphatic) system.

Sleeping Brain Waves Draw a Healthy Bath for Neurons | Quanta Magazine Elena Renken 2020

Studies suggest that this accumulates due to impairments in the brain’s waste disposal system, known as the glymphatic system.

Mysterious 'compound X' clears toxic Parkinson’s proteins from brain Carissa Wong 2026

“It reiterates the significance of glymphatic function and brain fluid dynamics in brain health.

Novel approach to clearing brain waste shows promise for Alzheimer's Chris Simms 2026

Further analysis showed that prazosin reversed impairment of the glymphatic system caused by CGRP, which probably enhanced its clearance and that of other molecules that transmit pain signals, says Della Pietra.

Migraines could be treated by ramping up the brain's cleaning system Carissa Wong 2026

Compound X has been shown to boost slow brainwaves, a key driver of glymphatic function, but no study has directly explored its effect on brain waste clearance before, says Yan.

Mysterious 'compound X' clears toxic Parkinson’s proteins from brain Carissa Wong 2026

Efforts are now increasingly pivoting towards other approaches, such as boosting the glymphatic system, which clears waste from our brain.

Novel approach to clearing brain waste shows promise for Alzheimer's Chris Simms 2026

The first are reactive astrocytes, which surround amyloid-beta clumps; the second are perivascular fibroblasts, which alter their activity before the onset of Alzheimer’s; and the third are choroid plexus epithelial cells, which are important for cerebrospinal fluid production – crucial to the glymphatic system.

Novel approach to clearing brain waste shows promise for Alzheimer's Chris Simms 2026

But given how complex the condition is, “I will put a big question mark here in terms of reversing Alzheimer’s”, he says. Next, the researchers developed a monoclonal antibody to target and eliminate DDR2 receptors. In a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, this improved both spatial learning and memory, with brain scans showing a reduction in DDR2, fewer amyloid plaques and a stronger glymphatic system.

Novel approach to clearing brain waste shows promise for Alzheimer's Chris Simms 2026

Such injuries impair the brain’s waste disposal system, known as the glymphatic system, while prazosin boosts the flow of waste fluid from brain cells through this system.

Migraines could be treated by ramping up the brain's cleaning system Carissa Wong 2026

Li and his colleagues are building on this, by zooming in on a receptor embedded in the membrane of cells that seems to enhance glymphatic action as one of its many functions.

Novel approach to clearing brain waste shows promise for Alzheimer's Chris Simms 2026