Waste clearance shapes aging brain health

Neuron. 2025 Jan 8;113(1):71-81. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.09.017. Epub 2024 Oct 11.

Abstract

Brain health is intimately connected to fluid flow dynamics that cleanse the brain of potentially harmful waste material. This system is regulated by vascular dynamics, the maintenance of perivascular spaces, neural activity during sleep, and lymphatic drainage in the meningeal layers. However, aging can impinge on each of these layers of regulation, leading to impaired brain cleansing and the emergence of various age-associated neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Understanding the intricacies of fluid flow regulation in the brain and how this becomes altered with age could reveal new targets and therapeutic strategies to tackle age-associated neurological decline.

Keywords: brain borders; brain clearance; lymphatic; meningeal immunity; meningeal lymphatic; neuroimmunology; sleep.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging* / physiology
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Brain* / physiology
  • Glymphatic System
  • Humans