Despite hundreds of expensive drug trials, a cure for dementia has yet to be found. But recently, some scientists are asking a fundamental question: are we looking in the wrong place?
According to new data, the key to fighting this disease may not be a drug, but a relatively simple surgical intervention.
The procedure is based on a technique that doctors liken to “unblocking a blocked drain,” removing toxic proteins from the brain – which are linked to the development of dementia. It is called lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) and is already used for patients with lymphedema, particularly in women with breast cancer.
Lymphedema occurs when lymph nodes are removed during cancer treatment, causing fluid buildup and swelling in the limbs. With the LVA technique, surgeons connect lymphatic vessels to veins to allow excess fluid to drain into the bloodstream.
Now, researchers are experimenting with a similar approach to treating dementia – connecting lymphatic vessels in the neck to veins to help remove waste from the brain.
The brain has its own lymphatic system to eliminate waste. As we age, this system becomes less efficient, allowing harmful proteins to accumulate. These proteins form deposits called amyloid plaques, which impair cognitive function and lead to symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and personality changes.
So far, around 2,000 dementia patients have undergone this procedure, and in some cases significant improvement has been reported – including the restoration of memory and recognition of family members.
The operation is performed by making a small incision in the neck, where a lymphatic vessel is connected to a deep cervical vein. This allows harmful proteins to drain from the brain. The procedure takes several hours and is performed under general anesthesia.
However, this approach remains highly controversial.
Most of the operations have been carried out in China, where critics say the procedure has been used without sufficient evidence of its safety and effectiveness. In 2025, Chinese authorities even banned its use outside of research studies.
Scientific evidence is still limited. Some small studies have shown improvements in cognitive function tests after surgery, but the data is incomplete and larger, more controlled studies are needed.
Experts warn that even if the procedure works, it is not a complete cure. According to them, the intervention can slow the progression of the disease by helping to clear the proteins, but does not stop their production.
Some specialists are even more skeptical, pointing out that the reported improvements may be the result of the placebo effect, and not the surgery itself.
However, research is ongoing. International teams, including those in Singapore and the US, have launched new clinical trials to more accurately assess the effectiveness of this method.
If proven to work, this technique could open a new chapter in the treatment of dementia - not through drugs, but by "cleaning" the brain's own system. /GazetaExpress/
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