A recent study in the Journal of Comparative Neurology has uncovered a previously unknown waste-clearing mechanism in the human brain that seems crucial for keeping neurons healthy. Scientists discovered that certain glial cells use microscopic channels to extract waste from neurons, directing it into small, receptacle-like structures. Structural damage to this system may lead to severe swelling and neuron deterioration—key signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, the researchers first observed a similar system in spider brains before identifying it in humans.
