Scientists using AI to analyze MRI data have uncovered a key detail about the brain’s glymphatic system — the network that clears metabolic waste during sleep. The system flushes out harmful substances, including amyloid-beta proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The findings reveal two distinct pathways: fluid moves relatively quickly in more open areas near the brain’s surface (between the skull and the brain), but in deeper brain tissue, the flow is about 50 times slower. Understanding these different speeds could help researchers develop methods to detect circulation problems associated with aging, Alzheimer’s, or concussions. The team is now establishing baseline measurements in animals to eventually translate the findings to human studies.
About the Author
