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A study in mice published in Nature indicates that when the function of the lymphatic system in the brain is enhanced, the ability to reduce the buildup of amyloid-beta is increased. Researchers found that treatment of mice with monoclonal antibodies was less effective in mice with a less functional lymphatic system.
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A ‘Lymphatic Boost’ May Improve Outcomes in Alzheimer’s Disease
Enhancing the brain’s lymphatic system when administering immunotherapies may lead to better clinical outcomes for Alzheimer’s disease patients, according to a new study in mice. Results recently published in Nature suggest that treatments such as the immunotherapies BAN2401 or aducanumab might be more effective when the brain’s lymphatic system can better drain the amyloid-beta protein that accumulates in the brains of those living with Alzheimer’s.
“A broad range of research on immunotherapies in development to treat Alzheimer’s by targeting amyloid-beta has not to date demonstrated consistent results,” says Richard J. Hodes, MD, director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA). “While this study’s findings require further confirmation, the link it has identified between a well-functioning lymphatic system in the brain and the ability to reduce amyloid-beta accumulation may be a significant step forward in pursuing this class of therapeutics.”
Abnormal buildup of amyloid-beta is one hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The brain’s lymphatic drainage system, which removes cellular debris and other waste, plays an important part in that accumulation.
A 2018 NIA-supported study showed a link between impaired lymphatic vessels and increased amyloid-beta deposits in the brains of aging mice, suggesting these vessels could play a role in age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. The lymphatic system is made up of vessels that run alongside blood vessels and carry immune cells and waste to lymph nodes. Lymphatic vessels extend into the brain’s meninges, which are membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
For this new study, the research team sought to determine whether changing how well the lymphatic drainage works in the brain could affect the levels of amyloid-beta and the success of antibody treatments that target amyloid-beta. Using a mouse model of early-onset Alzheimer’s, researchers removed some of the lymphatic vessels in the brains of one group of mice. They treated these mice, as well as a control group, with injections of monoclonal antibody therapies, including a mouse version of aducanumab.
Full story » |
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Hearing Loss and Dementia
Untangling the connection between these two common conditions. Read more »
Nutritional Intricacies for Osteoporosis
Dietary intervention is imperative. Read more »
Medical Treatment of Depression
Clinicians must keep the special needs of geriatric patients in mind. Read more » |
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How Long Can We Live?
The story of Jeanne Calment, who lived for 122 years in Arles, in the south of France, is the centerpiece of a New York Times report on the increasing lifespan, evidenced by a growing number of centenarians and even “supercentenarians.” Reporter Ferris Jabr looks at the research and the debate over just how flexible the lifespan may be.
How COVID Can Change the Brain
Some patients with COVID-19 have experienced a range of brain-related symptoms including confusion, delirium, hallucinations, depression, sleep disturbances, headaches, anxiety, and an impaired sense of smell. Researchers, as Science News reports, are trying to determine why these symptoms occur, how long they may last, and who is at greatest risk.
The Need for Cancer Data
In a Time magazine article, “We Need More Data in the Fight Against Cancer,” the authors point to the success of data collection, science, and technology in the fight against COVID and argue that similar progress can, and must, be made in the fight against cancer. They lay out a plan for how that might be achieved.
Pandemic Burnout
In the aftermath of the peak of the pandemic, many health care workers have stopped practicing and some consider never returning. According to a Washington Post-Kaiser Foundation poll, roughly 3 in 10 health care workers have considered leaving the profession, in what the paper calls “an exodus fueled by burnout, trauma, and disillusionment.” |
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Onsite Dialysis
Dialyze Direct, a kidney care innovation company, offers onsite dialysis treatment for nursing home/long term care facility residents, which can improve outcomes, decrease hospital readmissions, increase patient comfort, and help prevent exposure to the coronavirus. Learn more »
Disinfecting Medical Facilities
GSA-approved and used in more than 100 hospitals in the United States, iCleanse kills coronavirus and other pathogens in as little as 60 seconds. It reduces the spread of infectious pathogens to nursing home patients and employees by killing 99.9% of bacteria on devices and other items in less than 30 seconds. Learn more » |
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