Scientists from Monash University in Australia and Yale School of Medicine in the United States are working together on a new, high-tech way to treat ischemic stroke.
Their goal is to help the brain clear out harmful waste after a stroke, using the body’s own natural drainage system.
A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked. This can damage brain cells quickly. The most common type of stroke is called ischemic stroke, and it happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow.
Treating this kind of stroke quickly is very important, because every second counts. If the brain can’t get oxygen-rich blood, its cells begin to die. That’s why researchers are trying to find better and faster ways to help.
In recent years, scientists discovered that the brain has its own drainage system, called brain-draining lymphatics. These are small pathways that carry waste and fluid out of the brain. When this drainage system doesn’t work well, waste builds up and can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s and other brain problems.
Yale researchers were the first to find that helping these brain-draining lymphatics work better could help stroke patients recover.
Now, with Monash scientists, they are trying to develop safe, noninvasive devices that gently help the neck’s lymphatic vessels pump more effectively. This could help remove harmful fluid and waste from the brain right after a stroke, improving the chances of recovery.
They are also studying brain images from 140 people using advanced scanning tools. So far, they have found that women have fewer lymphatic vessels in the outer part of the brain compared to men.
This may explain why women often have worse outcomes from diseases like stroke and Alzheimer’s. The team hopes this new information can lead to treatments that are made especially for women.
Professor Natalie Trevaskis from Monash University said that for many years, scientists thought the brain didn’t have any lymphatic system. It wasn’t until 2015 that researchers found that the brain does have a way to remove waste.
Since then, more studies have shown that this system plays a key role in keeping the brain healthy. By improving this natural clean-up process, researchers hope to treat stroke and brain diseases in a new way.
The researchers are focused on finding new ways to help stroke patients recover. Current stroke treatments involve strong blood thinners or removing clots using special tools. These can work well, but they must be given quickly and in hospitals with special equipment. Some people cannot get to the hospital fast enough to receive these treatments.
This new method could be much easier to use and safer for more people. By improving how the brain drains itself, doctors might be able to reduce long-term damage. This could help stroke survivors recover better, with fewer problems like trouble speaking, walking, or doing daily tasks.
The researchers also believe that understanding the differences between men’s and women’s brains will lead to better and fairer treatments. Professor Anne Eichmann from Yale said that their goal is to make therapies that work for everyone by learning how brain waste is cleared in both men and women.
This project focuses on stroke because it is so common. One in four women will have a stroke at some point in their life. Stroke is also the second leading cause of death around the world. The need for better treatment is very urgent.
In summary, this study shows that helping the brain clean itself by improving its natural drainage system may become a powerful new way to treat stroke. It could also improve treatment for diseases like Alzheimer’s. While more research is still needed, this work brings new hope for better recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors in the future.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
