The glymphatic system in sleep and neurodegenerative diseases

Dr. Cavallari will present studies relevant to the recently discovered glymphatic pathway of clearance, with particular emphasis on ongoing studies at the Center for Neurological Imaging. The glymphatic pathway is considered to play a substantial role in the clearance of brain waste, including neurotoxins implicated in the pathobiology of neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Studies in animal models showed that this mechanism of clearance is particularly active during sleep. The characterization of the glymphatic system in humans would have profound implications for our understanding of the core functions of sleep, as well as the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Preliminary findings, including ours, support the presence of a similar mechanism of clearance in humans.