Near-Infrared Phototherapy Can Improve Aging And Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms

Professor Zhou Feifan's research team from the College of Biomedical Engineering at Hainan University has published a significant study in the renowned academic journal "Nature Communications". The study, titled "Non-invasive modulation of meningeal lymphatics ameliorates aging and Alzheimer's disease-associated pathology, enhancing cognition in mice," introduces a novel approach using 808-nanometer wavelength near-infrared laser for non-contact, non-invasive transcranial phototherapy in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This therapy significantly enhanced the drainage function of the meningeal lymphatic system in the mice, effectively alleviated pathological conditions, and led to a marked improvement in cognitive abilities.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that becomes increasingly prominent with age. Its core pathological hallmarks include the abnormal deposition of β-amyloid proteins and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, which progressively impair neuronal function, ultimately leading to a sharp decline in cognitive abilities.

As one of the most prevalent and highly fatal diseases among the elderly, current drug treatments for AD dominate the market but face severe challenges, such as limited efficacy and a high likelihood of adverse side effects. Therefore, the development of safe and effective new treatment strategies is particularly urgent and crucial for the prevention and management of Alzheimer's disease.

Meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), key waste clearance pathways in the central nervous system, have been shown to effectively participate in the clearance of β-amyloid (Aβ). However, with aging or the progression of Alzheimer's disease, the function of mLVs gradually deteriorates, exacerbating the risk of cognitive impairment and neural damage. Recent studies have demonstrated that delivering vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) via viral vectors can significantly enhance the drainage function of mLVs, effectively clearing harmful substances from the central nervous system and improving learning and memory abilities. This reveals the immense potential of mLVs as a therapeutic target for age-related cognitive disorders. However, given the chronic and progressive nature of neurodegenerative diseases like AD, invasive treatment strategies are not ideal, highlighting the urgent need for the development of non-invasive and long-term effective interventions.

Based on the anatomical characteristic that mLVs are located close to the easily accessible surface of the dura mater, Professor Zhou Feifan's team innovatively proposed a new strategy for modulating mLV function through light to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Their research confirmed that transcranial photostimulation can activate meningeal lymphatic endothelial cells and enhance the drainage efficiency of the lymphatic system but also successfully demonstrated the method's effectiveness in promoting pathological improvement and cognitive recovery in mouse models of aging and AD. This discovery opens up a novel and promising regulatory pathway for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Data Source：Nature Communications