FunGen-AD researcher Oscar Harari was part of a team that found a new way to improve waste clearance from the brain that could help treat or prevent neurodegenerative conditions. Immune cells surrounding the brain that influence how efficiently waste is swept out of the brain are impaired in old mice and in people and mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that treating old mice with an immune-stimulating compound rejuvenates immune cells and improves waste clearance from the brain.
This research was partially supported by FunGen-AD grant AG057777 and published in Nature here. You can read more about the research findings at the following links:
- Rejuvenated immune cells can improve clearance of toxic waste from brain (Washington University School of Medicine)
- Rejuvenated immune cells can improve clearance of toxic waste from brain (Science Daily)
- Immune cells control waste clearance in the brain (NIH)