Reduced waste clearance in the brain may increase tau protein buildup after traumatic brain injury

Glymphatic pathway function was reduced by approximately 60% after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and remained impaired for at least one month.

• Extracellular tau is cleared from the brain along paravascular pathways.
• Impairment of glymphatic function after TBI may contribute to tau aggregation.
• Genetic deletion of the aquaporin-4 gene worsened glymphatic dysfunction following TBI.
• The exacerbation of glymphatic pathway dysfunction is associated with increased neurofibrillary pathology and neurodegeneration.
• Chronic glymphatic impairment after TBI could increase the risk of developing dementia.

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