Improvement of Glymphatic System Using Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) for Lymphatic Enhancement

Motivation: Enhanced lymphatic flow may improve the glymphatic system for metabolic waste clearance from the brain. Goal(s): Our goal was to demonstrate that stimulating the lymphatics can enhance the glymphatic system. Approach: We introduced low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to enhance the lymphatics and assessed the glymphatic system in rats by visualizing signal changes in contrast-enhanced MRI. Results: The LIFU group exhibited a more rapid increase and decrease in signal intensity compared to the control group. Impact: Lymphatic enhancement using LIFU could influence the improvement of the glymphatic system. This enhancement could positively affect cognitive function, with potential implications for preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases.