The Glymphatic System
The brain's toxin-removal system that has a crucial role in the prevention of dementia
// A Thread //
The brain's toxin-removal system that has a crucial role in the prevention of dementia
// A Thread //
The glymphatic system is a recently discovered waste clearance system in the brain that is believed to play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the brain. The glymphatic system has been described as the central nervous system’s analogue to the lymphatic system.
The glymphatic system can clear potassium, waste metabolites such as lactate, and peptides/proteins including amyloid-β and tau, along with a variety of contrast agents and tracers.
Impaired glymphatic clearance is linked to neurodegeneration. Amyloid-beta & tau protein aggregations are heavily associated with Alzheimer’s, creating plaques & tangles that lead to degradation.
Glymphatic clearance moves tau proteins & amyloid-beta aggregates out of the brain
Glymphatic clearance moves tau proteins & amyloid-beta aggregates out of the brain
This suggests that the glymphatic system is involved in modulating, or possibly protecting against, Alzheimer’s disease.
rupress.org
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
rupress.org
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
A major function of sleep appears to be that the glymphatic system is turned on & that the brain clears itself of neurotoxic waste products.
When you sleep glymphatic function is enhanced, while it's suppressed during wakefulness.
When you sleep glymphatic function is enhanced, while it's suppressed during wakefulness.
During sleep, the brain's blood vessels dilate and more CSF is able to flow into the brain, facilitating the removal of waste products.
The CSF flows through the brain's extracellular space and is then drained out through the lymphatic vessels in the skull.
The CSF flows through the brain's extracellular space and is then drained out through the lymphatic vessels in the skull.
Both animal and clinical studies suggest that deep sleep in particular is vital for brain clearance, as slow (delta) waves that occur during stage three of NREM sleep are associated with high levels of glymphatic influx and amyloid-β clearance.
How can you improve your glymphatic health?
1. Sleep position
2. Alcohol intake
3. Exercise
4. Omega-3 consumption
5. Intermittent fasting
6. Chronic stress all modulation
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
1. Sleep position
2. Alcohol intake
3. Exercise
4. Omega-3 consumption
5. Intermittent fasting
6. Chronic stress all modulation
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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