A poorly “cleaned” brain increases the risk of psychosis

Early alterations in the brain's clearance system could contribute to vulnerability to psychosis.

Howard G. Smith MD, AM on Instagram: "Head Injuries Impair The Brain’s Self-Cleaning We know that repeated head trauma damages the brain leading to dementia and ultimately death, the consequences of so-called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE. The mechanism of damage is known to be brain bouncing against the hard skull. A new study from radiologists at the University of Alabama, the Cleveland Clinic, and the University of Arkansas to be presented this month at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting suggests yet another mechanism of damage. The researchers reviewed MR imaging from 280 cognitively impaired fighters and and 20 non-fighting controls. They found that repeated head trauma damages the brain’s glymphatic system that plays a vital cleanup role by flushing out toxic materials. Changes to this system due to brain injury appear before more serious cognitive deficits and can be used as an early warning sign of impending CTE. This study, if confirmed, suggests that MR brain imaging and glymphatic system analysis could and should become part of periodic physical screening of athletes sustaining periodic head trauma. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128223748.htm #head #trauma #cte #glymphatic #mri"

A recent study suggests that repetitive head injuries can damage the brain's glymphatic system, a crucial cleanup mechanism, leading to potential cognitive impairments and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Inbox | Substack

New sleep study ignites brain cleaning controversy | BPS

Recent work challenges ideas of increased toxin clearance during sleep — though some researchers question the study’s methods.

Scientists Discover Previously Unknown Cleansing System in Brain

Newer Imaging Technique Brings ‘Glymphatic System’ to Light

Insight into brain’s waste clearing system may shed light on brain diseases

Lab uses focused ultrasound with microbubbles to examine glymphatic system