This medical issue is of importance to all older readers, and maybe younger ones too. An email claiming that gently massaging the face and neck can double the brain's ability to flush out toxic waste, potentially preventing or reversing Alzheimer's disease, has sparked intrigue. The email cites a study from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea, published in Nature, which reportedly discovered a network of lymphatic vessels just under the skin of the face and neck that drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This system, allegedly less efficient with age, could be stimulated by a one-minute massage to restore youthful CSF flow, offering a drug-free approach to brain health. However, the email's bold claims, especially about Alzheimer's prevention or reversal, raise questions. Is this science or hype? Let's examine the evidence, the study, and the broader context.

The email likely refers to a study published in Nature on January 11, 2024, by researchers led by Koh Gou Young at the IBS Center for Vascular Research, titled "Nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus is a hub for cerebrospinal fluid drainage" (updated in print January 25, 2024). Using fluorescent tracers in Prox1-GFP lymphatic reporter mice, the team mapped a previously unknown CSF drainage pathway through lymphatic vessels in the nasopharyngeal plexus, located at the back of the nose, connecting to deep cervical lymph nodes. These vessels, about 5 mm beneath the skin in mice and monkeys, were also identified in human cadavers, suggesting a similar system in humans.

Key findings:

New Drainage Route: CSF flows from the brain's subarachnoid space through facial lymphatics (periorbital, olfactory, nasopharyngeal, and hard palate) to submandibular and deep cervical lymph nodes.

Age-Related Decline: In aged mice, the nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus atrophied, reducing CSF outflow, but deep cervical lymphatics remained functional.

Mechanical Stimulation: A handheld device (a cotton-covered rod, ~1 cm wide) gently stroking the face and neck for one minute doubled CSF flow in aged mice, restoring levels seen in younger animals. This was achieved without damaging tissue or disrupting the vessels' natural contractions.

Potential for Alzheimer's: The study notes that CSF clears amyloid-beta and tau proteins, linked to Alzheimer's, and suggests that enhancing drainage could reduce their accumulation, though direct evidence in Alzheimer's models is still under investigation.

The study is credible, published in a high-impact journal (Nature, IF 69.504), and builds on prior research on the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems, which clear brain waste like amyloid-beta. Posts on X, such as @NeuroscienceNew and @newscientist, corroborate the findings, highlighting the non-invasive stimulation's potential for neurodegenerative diseases.

The email's core claims align with the Nature study but exaggerate or misrepresent key points:

Massage Doubling CSF Flow: The study confirms that gentle mechanical stimulation of facial and neck lymphatics in aged mice doubled CSF outflow, restoring youthful levels. This is accurate and supported by fluorescent tracer data showing enhanced drainage to submandibular nodes.

Alzheimer's Prevention or Reversal: The email's claim that this could "prevent, even reverse Alzheimer's" is speculative. The study shows improved CSF flow, which clears amyloid-beta and tau, but only proposes future research in Alzheimer's mouse models to test therapeutic effects. No direct evidence of prevention or reversal exists yet. A 2024 Nature study found near-infrared light improved cognition in Alzheimer's model mice by enhancing meningeal lymphatic function, but this is a different method and not equivalent to massage.

Human Application: The email suggests humans can replicate these results with hand or device massages. While the study identified similar lymphatic structures in human cadavers, it cautions that anatomical differences (e.g., thicker human skin) require further validation. Koh Gou Young emphasised ongoing primate studies to confirm applicability.

"Brain Flow Exercises": The email's pitch for proprietary exercises to "flush out toxins" and reverse dementia is unsupported. No peer-reviewed studies validate specific exercises for CSF drainage or dementia reversal. This smells of marketing hype, leveraging the Nature study to sell unproven products.

The discovery builds on a decade of research into the brain's waste clearance systems:

Glymphatic System: Discovered in 2012, this system facilitates CSF-interstitial fluid exchange, clearing waste like amyloid-beta via aquaporin-4 channels in astrocytes. Its dysfunction in aging or Alzheimer's contributes to protein accumulation.

Meningeal Lymphatics: Identified in 2015, these vessels drain CSF to cervical lymph nodes. Impairments exacerbate Alzheimer's pathology, while enhancing drainage (e.g., via growth factors or light therapy) reduces amyloid-beta in mice.

Microplastics and Fertility: While not directly related, microplastics in the brain (7 grams on average, per Nature Medicine 2025) may also impair glymphatic function, though no direct link to CSF drainage is established.

A 2021 Nature study showed that boosting meningeal lymphatics with growth factors enhanced amyloid-beta clearance in Alzheimer's model mice, supporting the email's premise that improved drainage could help. However, human trials are lacking, and Alzheimer's is multifactorial, genetics, inflammation, and vascular issues all play roles, per Molecular Neurodegeneration (2023).

The email isn't outright false news, but overhypes the science:

What's True: The Nature study is real and shows that non-invasive stimulation of facial and neck lymphatics enhances CSF drainage in aged mice, with potential implications for Alzheimer's. The lymphatic network's discovery is a breakthrough, and the method is promising for future research.

What's Exaggerated: Claims of Alzheimer's prevention or reversal are premature. The study doesn't test dementia outcomes, and human applications are unconfirmed. The "brain flow exercises" pitch lacks evidence and feels like a sales tactic.

What's Missing: The email ignores caveats, like the need for human studies and the complexity of Alzheimer's. It also omits practical challenges, such as precise stimulation techniques or anatomical differences.

The email's suggestion to try face and neck massages at home seems low-risk, as the study's method caused no tissue damage. However, unguided attempts could be ineffective or, in rare cases, harmful if overly aggressive. More concerning is the commercialisation angle. Biotech firms may capitalise on this research to market untested devices or programs. A 2025 Bloomberg report notes the neurotech market is projected to hit $15 billion by 2030, with companies like Neuralink pushing brain-related innovations, often with minimal regulation. This raises the risk of overhyped products exploiting desperate patients.

Instead of banking on unproven exercises, consider:

Lifestyle Support: Sleep on your side, practice nasal breathing, and maintain cardiovascular health to support glymphatic function.

Await Human Studies: Koh's team is testing primates, and results could clarify human applications.

Advocate for Regulation: Push for oversight of neurotech devices to prevent predatory marketing, as seen in past biotech scandals (Wall Street Journal, 2024).

Holistic Approaches: Address environmental factors like microplastics through policy (e.g., banning single-use plastics, per Nature 2025) to reduce systemic health risks.

The Nature study is a legitimate breakthrough, showing that gentle face and neck stimulation can enhance CSF drainage in mice, with potential to mitigate Alzheimer's-related protein buildup. However, the email's claims about preventing or reversing dementia are speculative, and its "brain flow exercises" lack scientific backing. While the science is exciting, human applications are years away, and corporate interests may exploit the hype. For now, focus on proven lifestyle habits and await further research rather than chasing unverified solutions.

References:

Yoon, J-H., et al. (2024). Nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus is a hub for cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Nature, 625, 768–777.

Neuroscience News. (2025, June 6). Facial Stimulation Clears Brain Waste and Boosts Aging Minds.

New Scientist. (2025, June 5). Massaging the neck and face may help flush waste out of the brain.