A groundbreaking study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine has revealed how traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The research suggests that improving brain drainage following head trauma could be a key strategy to prevent the disease.
John Lukens, the director of UVA’s Harrison Family Translational Research Center in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and his team found that even a mild TBI can trigger harmful changes in the brain, setting the stage for Alzheimer’s development.
“Our findings suggest that improving brain drainage after head injuries could help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s later in life,” said Lukens, who is also part of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience and its Center for Brain Immunology and Glia. “We hope this research inspires the development of new treatments aimed at accelerating brain recovery and preventing Alzheimer’s.”
The study is supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institutes of Health, and several other organizations.
New Understanding of How TBIs Lead to Alzheimer’s
While it’s known that traumatic brain injuries raise the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, the exact cause has remained unclear. This new study shows that TBIs can damage lymphatic vessels in the brain, which play a crucial role in protecting and cleaning the brain.
These lymphatic vessels, discovered by UVA researchers in 2015, are essential for the brain’s immune function. The study found that brain injuries disrupt these vessels, leading to an accumulation of tau protein—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Even a mild head injury in laboratory mice was enough to begin the brain’s degeneration. The study also revealed how TBIs alter immune cells, called macrophages, which are responsible for clearing debris from the brain.
“This research enhances our understanding of the long-term effects of brain injuries and their link to neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Ashley Bolte, a member of the research team. “Currently, there are few treatments for traumatic brain injury, so identifying a potential therapeutic target is very exciting.”
Potential Treatment: Restoring Brain Drainage
In the lab, researchers found that treating mice within 24 hours of a mild brain injury helped protect brain health. The treatment involved delivering a growth factor called VEGFC, which stimulates the repair and growth of lymphatic vessels. This approach prevented the buildup of tau protein and could one day help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
While more research is needed before this treatment can be tested in humans, the scientists are hopeful it could also help with other neurodegenerative conditions, such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
“Traumatic brain injury is linked to several other neurological diseases, and investigating whether restoring brain drainage could help prevent these disorders is an exciting area for future research,” said Lukens.
Related topic：
