The process in research of anatomy of brain lymphatic system and the relationship between it and Alzheimer's disease / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Conventional wisdom holds that the central nervous system (CNS) does not have lymphatic vessels or lymphatic circulation, and it lacks lymphatic pathways to clear brain metabolites. However, with the development of study in intracranial clearance, it has been discovered that there are lymphatic systems in CNS, including glymphatic pathway and it meningeal lymphatic vessels. It further reveals the exchange system between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid (ISF). It also closely relates to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, age-related changes of brain, traumatic brain injury, circulatory diseases and tumors. In the past 10 years, the research in CNS has been a hot spot in life sciences. This article aims to explain the research progress from the aspects of the discovery of glymphatic system, anatomical structure and function, and relationship with Alzheimer's disease (AD).