Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear and watery liquid that flows in and around the brain and spinal cord. Its functions include protecting parts of the nervous system, delivering nutrients and removing metabolic waste.

Some neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, have been linked to the abnormal accumulation of proteins in the brain, which can cause damage to neurons. This accumulation of proteins could potentially be linked to variations in the flow of CSF in specific brain regions.

Researchers at Leiden University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) recently developed a new approach to study the motion of CSF, which is based on the widely used imaging technique magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The skull base provides a platform for supporting the brain while serving as a conduit for major neurovascular structures. In addition to malignant lesions originating in the skull base, there are many benign entities and developmental variants that may simulate disease. Therefore, a basic understanding of the relevant embryology is essential. Lesions centered in the skull base can extend to the adjacent intracranial and extracranial compartments; conversely, the skull base can be secondarily involved by primary extracranial and intracranial disease. CT and MRI are the mainstay imaging methods and are complementary in the evaluation of skull base lesions. Advances in cross-sectional imaging have been crucial in the management of patients with skull base pathology, as this represents a complex anatomical area that is hidden from direct clinical exam.

Scientists have developed a new molecule that breaks down beta-amyloid plaques by binding to excess copper in the brain. The treatment restored memory and reduced inflammation in rats, while also proving non-toxic and able to cross the blood–brain barrier. Because it’s far simpler and potentially cheaper than existing drugs, researchers are now pursuing partnerships to begin human trials.