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Cervical lymphatic vessels

Incompetent neck valves threaten the aging brain

Nature Aging (2024)Cite this article

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Cervical lymphatic vessels drain cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. A recent study reveals an aging-related disruption in the pumping action of lymphatic vessels that hampers lymph flow, which may prevent efficient brain clearance of potentially toxic proteins linked to neurodegenerative disease.

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Fig. 1: Aging alters cervical lymphatic function, resulting in sluggish lymph flow.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Monica M. Santisteban

  2. Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Costantino Iadecola

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  1. Monica M. Santisteban
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  2. Costantino Iadecola
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Correspondence to Costantino Iadecola.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Santisteban, M.M., Iadecola, C. Incompetent neck valves threaten the aging brain. Nat Aging (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00707-y

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