Glymphatic System: a New Research Direction for the Pathogenesis of Brain Diseases

Abstract

The glymphatic system is mainly mediated by aquaporin 4 on astrocytes and relies on the exchange and flow of cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue fluid in the vascular space around arteries and veins. It is a common feature of encephalopathy such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression. It is a new brain metabolic pathway that can remove metabolites including β-amyloid and lactate. This paper comprehensively analyzes the global research on the glial lymphatic system in brain diseases, and concludes that the glial lymphatic system may bring a new perspective for the study of the pathogenesis and diagnosis and treatment strategies of neurodegenerative diseases; glial lymphatic system is expected to provide new and effective evidence for the diagnosis of some brain diseases; the glial lymphatic system may be a new way to treat brain diseases.

Keywords

• glymphatic system|brain diseases|brain perivascular spaces|aquaporin 4