The Glymphatic System

The glymphatic system is the waste clearance system of the brain, very similar to the lymphatic system for the body.  It is a network of spaces in the central nervous system (brain and spine areas) which transport pathological waste products (including amyloid) to the lymphatic system to process and flush out of the body. The catch is that the glymphatic system is most active when we sleep. If we’re getting fewer hours of sleep than we need, our brain doesn’t fully flush all the toxins. That sleepy brain fog you get after a bad night’s sleep means your brain is sort of swimming in its own poop. The glymphatic system interfaces directly with the lymphatic system within the brain and then drains into the lymph nodes of the neck.

Reducing Amyloids

In addition to good sleep, researchers found that treating Alzheimer’s model mouse brains to gentle electric stimulation of 40hz (a specific frequency) increased the drainage clearance of amyloid from the glymphatic system.

Promising Path Forward

Although the effects of manual lymphatic drainage on Alzheimer’s dementia has not been specifically studied, it seems likely that using lymphatic intervention at the interface and exits of the glymphatic and lymphatic system would improve the removal of waste.  The reduction in waste could have a positive effect in reducing dementia-like symptoms, and for preventing other cognitive issues caused by lymphatic accumulation in the brain; like brain fog, some ADHD symptoms, sleep disruptions, and hormonal disruptions.

1. Jessen, N. A., Munk, A. S. F., Lundgaard, I., & Nedergaard, M. (2015). The Glymphatic System: A Beginner’s Guide. Neurochemical Research, 40(12), 2583–2599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-015-1581-6
2. Hablitz, L. M., & Nedergaard, M. (2021). The Glymphatic System: A Novel Component of Fundamental Neurobiology. the Journal of Neuroscience/the Journal of Neuroscience, 41(37), 7698–7711. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0619-21.2021
3. Murdock, M. H., Yang, C. Y., Sun, N., Pao, P. C., Blanco-Duque, C., Kahn, M. C., Kim, T., Lavoie, N. S., Victor, M. B., Islam, M. R., Galiana, F., Leary, N., Wang, S., Bubnys, A., Ma, E., Akay, L. A., Sneve, M., Qian, Y., Lai, C., . . . Tsai, L. H. (2024). Multisensory gamma stimulation promotes glymphatic clearance of amyloid. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07132-6
4. Huang, S., Zhang, Y., Guo, Y., Du, J., Ren, P., Wu, B., Feng, J., Cheng, W., & Yu, J. (2024). Glymphatic system dysfunction predicts amyloid deposition, neurodegeneration, and clinical progression in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 20(5), 3251–3269. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13789
5. Boosting brain’s waste removal system could improve Alzheimer’s. (2021, May 11). National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/boosting-brains-waste-removal-system-could-improve-alzheimers-outcomes

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 There is a deep connection between the lymphatic system and the most common signs of aging. What we understand as aging is the result of long-term inflammation, called inflamm-aging, or Para inflammation. Fortunately, many signs and symptoms of aging, including sagging skin, joint issues, cognition and posture changes; are absolutely negotiable. It’s not necessary to feel or look older than our years.

The Inflammatory Response

 The lymphatic system is the immune system, and secretes cytokines, or pro inflammatory markers, in the presence of injury or irritation. When cytokines are present, they trigger the inflammation cascade response, which results in an accumulation of white blood cells, fluid, proteins, enzymes, to rescue the injured tissues. Ideally, once the inflammatory response is done, the lymphatic system disposes of the excess proteins and other debris.

How the Inflammatory Response Can Go Wrong

 There are a couple of very common ways that this process can go sideways.

1. Garbage Pile Up:  The body doesn’t fully dispose of all the cell debris, and it backs up, interfering with the regular function of the surrounding systems. You might imagine this as garbage piling up if it’s not taken out. Eventually it starts to damage surrounding systems, and interfere with the regular functions of the body. This leads to a breakdown over time.
   
   
2. Persistent Inflammation:  When inflammation is chronic, and persistent, even at low levels, the constant inflammatory response eventually damages and weakens the body. The body doesn’t get a chance to find balance, and instead the injuries pile one on top of another, layer upon layer, each new one creating another inflammation cascade. The body eventually gets hypersensitive to injuries or allergens, and starts to lose functions. 

Both of these leads to hypersensitivity, reduced resilience, and signs of aging

 Lymph Work Maintains Healthy Aging

Regular lymphatic and proteostasis work help in both of these instances:

1. Garbage Disposal:  If the lymphatic system isn’t clearing out post-inflammatory debris, it might need assistance.  In this case, receiving lymphatic drainage work regularly reduces the time it takes to recover from injury and inflammation. This is similar to the idea of taking out the garbage regularly.
   
2. Reducing Inflammation:  If the body is in a state of constant inflammation, receiving regular lymph work would help reduce the layers of inflammation one by one. This works as long as the causes for injury are removed. This process can be much slower. With chronic issues, the general rule of healing is allow one month of active, intentional work for every year the issue has been active.

Bodies will get inflamed; this is a sign of a healthy, well-functioning immune system. But ideally, the body’s systems are resourced enough to fully resolve inflammation by themselves. But sometimes our body needs help. Incorporating regular lymph and proteostasis work increases the healthy functioning of the body, and so increases the likelihood of gorgeous and graceful transition into any age.

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1. Rea, I. M., Gibson, D. S., McGilligan, V., McNerlan, S. E., Alexander, H. D., & Ross, O. A. (2018). Age and Age-Related Diseases: Role of Inflammation Triggers and Cytokines. Frontiers in Immunology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00586
2. Aldrich, M. B., & Sevick-Muraca, E. M. (2013). Cytokines are systemic effectors of lymphatic function in acute inflammation. Cytokine, 64(1), 362–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2013.05.015

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