Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, affecting 3-4% of the population over a lifetime. It's characterized by abnormal Amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau protein expression and accumulation in the central nervous system, leading to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. While current treatments can slow cognitive decline, there's no cure.
The discovery of the "glymphatic-meningeal lymphatic" system has shed new light on cerebrospinal fluid circulation, showing it has a similar interstitial fluid system to peripheral lymphatic circulation. This system helps clear waste and transport nutrients in the brain, known as the glymphatic phenomenon. The deep cervical lymph nodes, part of this system, are crucial for cerebrospinal fluid drainage and are linked to the clearance of AD-related proteins.
Aging and inflammation can impair deep cervical lymph node function, increasing cerebrospinal fluid drainage pressure and potentially contributing to AD progression. Lymphatic anastomosis, a surgical technique used for lymphedema and other conditions, is being explored as a potential treatment to alleviate neurodegenerative disease by reducing cerebrospinal fluid pressure and clearing metabolic waste.
a. aged 50-90 years (> or equal to 50 years old, < or equal to 90 years old) were evaluated as Alzheimer's disease group according to the 2018 NIA-AA diagnostic criteria; B. signed by the patient or family informed consent; c. Patients with mild or moderate disease, 11≤MMSE≤26; d. Subjects with primary school education or above can complete the prescribed scale evaluation; The diagnosis of AD was confirmed by e.PET or cerebrospinal fluid examination
a. any other disease that can cause cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, etc.), intracranial mass impairing cognition, history of traumatic brain injury, normal pressure hydrocephalus, history of clinically significant cerebrovascular disease; b. Excluding other diseases affecting the nervous system, including nervous system infection, epilepsy, and systemic diseases affecting the function of the nervous system; c. Inability to cooperate with cognitive testing; d. Presence of contraindications to MRI examination (e.g., pacemakers, stents, claustrophobia, severe psychiatric symptoms, etc.).