Research revealing how the brain flushes waste named STAT Madness Editors’ Pick
Overview
University of Rochester Neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard’s research was selected by editors for its innovation, rigor, and potential impact from among 64 teams that competed in the month-long, bracket-style STAT Madness tournament and celebration of biomedical research. More than a decade after Nedergaard’s discovery of the glymphatic system highlighted the importance of sleep for brain health, she now has shown that tightly synchronized oscillations of norepinephrine, blood volume, and cerebrospinal fluid work together to flush out dangerous proteins and toxins during deep, non-REM sleep. The disruption of this process as we age is thought to contribute to the build-up of malformed proteins and the development of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s.
The Big Picture
Being recognized by STAT Madness underscores the national significance of this work and the crucial role New York State researchers are playing in advancing it. New York has long been a hub for world-class biomedical science, and this recognition reflects the state’s continued investment in cutting-edge, high-impact research that could reshape how we approach brain health.
