Discovery of channels linking the skull and the brain could boost Alzheimer’s research

HIDDEN tunnels linking the skull to the brain have been discovered by scientists, leading to hopes the breakthrough may help in stroke and Alzheimer’s research.

Researchers believe that the passages provide a quick channel for immune cells to reach the brain from the bone marrow in the skull.

Previously it was thought that immune cells formed in the bone marrow of the limbs were transported up to the brain to clear out infection. But the study suggests the body has a quicker way of healing itself.

“These findings suggest immune cells may be taking a shortcut to areas of inflammation,” said Dr Francesca Bosetti.

“Inflammation plays a critical role in many brain disorders and the newly described channels opens up many new avenues of research.”

The discovery was made after injecting dye into the bone marrow of mice with brain injuries and watching how the immune cells made their way to the injury. Researchers found that immune cells, called neutrophils, showed up first, apparently from the skull.

The team then looked at scans of human skulls from people who had undergone brain surgery and found that the same tunnels are also present but five times larger in diameter.

One idea is that the channels could serve as a route of drug delivery.

The study also found that immune cells which are nearest an injury are triggered so that healing can begin as quickly as possible.

The research was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.