A hidden network discovered in the brain – and it could change Alzheimer's research

A new study from University College London reveals a previously unknown network of microscopic drainage channels in the brain, about 2 micrometers in diameter. Observed in mice and human brain tissue, these channels enable rapid clearance of proteins like amyloid-beta and tau within minutes. The findings may shed light on mechanisms of Alzheimer's development, but researchers emphasize the study is preliminary, has not yet undergone peer review, and the path to medical applications remains long.

A new study from University College London (UCL) reveals a previously unknown network of microscopic drainage channels in the brain, about 2 micrometers in diameter. The channels, structurally reminiscent of lymphatic vessels found outside the brain, run along blood vessels, the brain's membranes, and exiting nerves. In experiments on mice, fluorescently labeled proteins accumulated within these channels and moved toward the brain's surface within minutes—some in less than 7.5 minutes. Tests on living human brain tissue removed during tumor surgeries showed similar results. The findings offer a possible explanation for how proteins like amyloid-beta and tau, characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, cross blood vessel walls on their way out. However, researchers emphasize that the study was published as a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review, and the function of these channels in living humans has yet to be conclusively proven. The next challenge is to understand what drives the fluid movement at such high speed—whether it is vascular pulsation or another mechanism. Understanding this mechanism may in the future help determine whether slowed drainage contributes to the onset of Alzheimer's and whether accelerating the system could serve as a therapeutic tool.