The glymphatic system clears amyloid beta and tau from brain to plasma in humans

Dagum, Paul; Elbert, Donald L.; Giovangrandi, Laurent; Singh, Tarandeep; Venkatesh, Venky V.; Corbellini, Alejandro; Kaplan, Robert M.; Levendovszky, Swati Rane; Ludington, Elizabeth; Yarasheski, Kevin; Lowenkron, Jeffrey; VandeWeerd, Carla; Lim, Miranda M.; Iliff, Jeffrey J.

doi:10.1038/s41467-026-68374-8

articleNature CommunicationsJan 27, 2026GOLD OA

The glymphatic system clears amyloid beta and tau from brain to plasma in humans

PDPaul Dagum DLDonald L. Elbert LGLaurent Giovangrandi TSTarandeep Singh VVVenky V. Venkatesh

Cognizant (United States) · University of Washington · +10 more institutions

PubMed

Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

Dysfunction of the glymphatic system has been proposed as a mechanistic link between sleep disruption and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In animal models, glymphatic impairment alone can drive AD pathology. Whether this system clears amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau in humans remains unknown. In a randomized crossover trial with 39 participants, we found that glymphatic clearance during normal sleep increased morning plasma levels of AD biomarkers compared to sleep deprivation. Participants underwent overnight monitoring using an investigational device that measured dynamic changes in synaptic-metabolic release and glymphatic activity. The observed changes mirrored predictions from a multicompartment model based on…

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Topics & keywords

Topics

Keywords

Glymphatic system
Pathophysiology
BETA (programming language)
Amyloid beta
Sleep (system call)
Amyloid (mycology)
Disease
Alzheimer's disease

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