A proposed role for lymphatic supermicrosurgery in the management of Alzheimer’s disease: A primer for reconstructive microsurgeons

The relatively recent discovery of a novel lymphatic system within the brain meninges has spurred interest in how waste products generated by neurons and glial cells—including proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology such as Aβ and tau—are disposed of. Evidence is building that suggests disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments could be explained by dysfunction in the brain’s lymphatic system or obstruction of drainage. An interesting implication of this hypothesis is that, by relieving the obstruction of flow, lymphatic reconstruction along the drainage pathway could serve as a potential, novel treatment. Should this concept prove true, it could represent a surgical solution to a problem for which only medical solutions have thus far been considered. The following review is meant to serve as a primer for reconstructive microsurgeons, introducing the topic and current hypotheses about the potential role of lymphatic drainage in Alzheimer’s disease. A preview of current research evaluating the feasibility of lymphatic reconstruction as a surgical approach to improving Aβ clearance is provided, with the aim of inspiring others to design robust preclinical and clinical investigations into this intriguing hypothesis.