The brain makes a lot of waste. Now scientists think they know where it goes
What role does the liver and kidneys play in brain waste management?
The liver and kidneys play a crucial role in brain waste management. During sleep, the brain's waste removal system becomes active, and waste products in the cerebrospinal fluid are absorbed into the bloodstream6. The blood then carries these waste products to the liver and kidneys, which filter and remove them from the body. This process helps maintain a healthy brain and prevent the accumulation of toxic waste, such as amyloid, associated with Alzheimer's disease.
What is the primary function of the brain's waste-removal system?
The primary function of the brain's waste-removal system is to maintain homeostasis by continuously removing metabolic waste produced by its cells. This system, known as the glymphatic system, operates during sleep and uses slow electrical waves to push fluid around cells, allowing waste products to be absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually removed from the body by the liver and kidneys.
How might impairments in the brain's waste-removal system contribute to Alzheimer's?
Impairments in the brain's waste-removal system can contribute to Alzheimer's by allowing waste products, such as amyloid, to accumulate in the brain. This accumulation can lead to the formation of sticky plaques, which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. By understanding the brain's waste-removal system and how it becomes impaired, researchers hope to find ways to prevent or treat the disease by promoting proper waste clearance.