A new study suggests that problems with the brain's waste clearance system could raise the risk of dementia. The research, published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, examined the glymphatic system, which includes cerebrospinal fluid responsible for removing waste, cushioning the nervous system, and delivering nutrients. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and their collaborators analysed MRI brain scans of 40,000 adults from the UK Biobank. They identified three biomarkers that may help predict dementia risk over 10 years. The study found that cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes affect the glymphatic system, potentially leading to vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Poor sleep and heart conditions may also contribute to dementia by impairing cerebrospinal fluid movement. The findings offer hope for new prevention strategies, including improving sleep and developing medicines to enhance glymphatic function.
How Fluid Movement in the Brain Affects Dementia Risk
The glymphatic system plays a key role in protecting against common forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, where proteins called amyloid form toxic plaques. The study examined whether disorders of the brain's small blood vessels and cardiovascular risk factors could damage this system. Researchers identified three biomarkers linked to dementia risk: how water spreads along tiny channels around blood vessels (perivascular spaces) and the velocity of cerebrospinal fluid entering the brain. Impaired fluid movement may prevent the brain from clearing harmful proteins effectively. The team found that cardiovascular issues such as blood pressure and diabetes disrupt glymphatic function, partly causing cerebral small vessel disease. Good sleep, crucial for the glymphatic system, may reduce dementia risk. Scientists suggest existing or new medicines could improve glymphatic function.
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