American neuroscientists from Washington University in St. Louis and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke have discovered a channel that connects the brain to the body’s outer protective layers. This overturned the long-held belief that the organ was isolated from the body’s immune system. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature.
Traditionally, the brain was thought to operate in a kind of complete isolation, protected by barriers that keep out the immune system and potentially harmful substances.
But isolation can also mean that the brain has a limited ability to eliminate waste. And this is necessary for the prevention of diseases.
“Liquid wastes move from the brain to the body in the same way that sewage moves out of our homes. In this study, we asked what happens when these wastes flow from the brain to the body’s central sewage system,” explained senior author Daniel Reich.
To better understand the brain’s drainage system, scientists used a technique similar to that used to detect leaks in pipelines using colored fluid. Neuroscientists injected volunteers with the magnetic dye gadobutrol and tracked their movements using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
As a result of observations, special points were discovered where blood vessels pass through protective membranes. These points act as a gateway that releases waste fluids, immune cells, and other molecules into the external space.
Scientists also found that the effectiveness of gateway points weakens with age, which may be associated with an increased risk of developing neurological diseases later in life.
The discovery explains the mechanisms by which waste and immune signals move between the brain and its outer protective covering, potentially offering new opportunities for understanding and treating neurological diseases.
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