The brain has a bin; how is it emptied? Is it not clear how metabolic waste is cleared from the brain. We propose that it occurs most actively during wakefulness rather than sleep, challenging the cur

Description

The brain has a bin; how is it emptied? Is it not clear how metabolic waste is cleared from the brain. We propose that it occurs most actively during wakefulness rather than sleep, challenging the current model. The study aims to address knowledge gaps in the current glymphatic clearance model using innovative techniques to understand brain metabolism homeostasis and optimal function. The project will determine rates of waste efflux in the brains of mice in wakefulness and sleep, determine the role of arteries and veins in the clearance system, and explore the cellular mechanisms by which metabolites are cleared through water channels. The findings could also offer insights into maintaining cognitive health and new avenues for mitigating age-related neurodegenerative diseases. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3209 - Neurosciences. Lead: Prof Elizabeth Coulson