Discovery of a New Part in the Brain Might Impact Alzheimer’s

 You might think we know about almost all the parts of the brain. While we probably do for most physical parts of the brain, we still need to learn about their functions. On functions, we are definitely still learning…a lot!

So, surprisingly there’s a new part of the brain that was recently discovered. It’s called by the long name - subarachnoid lymphatic-like membrane. We’ll use the shortened name – SLYM (that’s so much easier!)

SLYM is a very fragile membrane that encases the brain and the SLYM disintegrates when there is an autopsy. This means that none of the NCIS tv shows or real docs would have ever discovered it.

The researchers were able to discover it by using the latest high-resolution microscopy. They have also begun to figure out what it does…which is the really interesting part.

Since it encircles the brain, the SLYM membrane’s purpose seems to be to keep toxic fluids out of the brain!

It’s designed to be part of the brain’s waste disposal system. It keeps newly made cerebrospinal fluid separate from the “dirty” fluid that contains the body’s waste products. The importance of this discovery is that the SLYM membrane may be a factor in a number of diseases including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and central nervous system disease infections.

One word of caution here and it’s that lumbar punctures and epidurals can damage the membrane. Would patients willingly get lumbar punctures and epidurals if they knew that this could damage the membrane? Or does more research need to be done to find a way to protect the SLYM and still get information that’s needed for treatment?
(Reported WDDTY. September 2023)

Here are a couple of quotes from Hippocrates that I just ran across that I found to be really interesting.

“If you are not your own doctor, then you are a fool” That’s pretty strong and clear!

“The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it.”

“The natural healing from within each of us is the greatest force in getting well.”

Great word of wisdom from Hippocrates, the Father of modern medicine.