Neurodegenerative Diseases.

About

Description A novel diagnostic test and therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Discovery Researchers at the University of Rochester have made a breakthrough discovery of the glymphatic pathway by which the brain clears its interstitial waste – a pathway resembling the discrete lymphatic system present in other peripheral tissues. This invention offers a new paradigm for early and accurate detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutic intervention of this pathway will eventually help to find the long-sought cure for this disease.
 The researchers have demonstrated that in live animal models, the glymphatic system supports the clearance of Amyloid β, the main component of deposits found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The potential use of this invention to accurately diagnose AD patients was presented by successfully employing a clinically relevant imaging technology contrast-enhanced MRI to evaluate the efficiency of the glymphatic clearance. Additionally, the researchers have been exploiting this system in identifying therapeutics to accelerating the glymphatic clearance and thereby reversing the disease progression. Publications
 Jeffrey J. Iliff and et. al., Brain-Wide Pathway for Waste Clearance Captured by Contrast-Enhanced MRI, J Clin Invest. 2013 March 1; 123(3): 1299–1309.
 Jeffrey J. Iliff and et. al., A Paravascular Pathway Facilitates CSF Flow Through the Brain Parenchyma and the Clearance of Interstitial Solutes, Including Amyloid β, Sci. Transl. Med. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003748.
 Jeffrey J. Iliff and et. al., Impairment of glymphatic pathway function promotes tau pathology after traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci. 2014 Dec 3;34(49):16180-93. 
Yang L and et. al., Evaluating glymphatic pathway function utilizing clinically relevant intrathecal infusion of CSF tracer. J Transl Med. 2013 May 1;11:107. URV Reference Number: 6-2158