Role of the glymphatic system in post-stroke cognitive impairment
HE Yongqi
YU Changxiang
YU Jiasheng
Abstract：Post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI)is a significant factor affecting the long-term prognosis of patients,and its underlying mechanisms require in-depth elucidation.The glymphatic system,a recently discovered brain fluid circulation pathway,plays a crucial role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain.Research on this system offers a new perspective for un-derstanding PSCI.This review systematically summarizes recent research progress on PSCI and the glymphatic system,focusing on three major stroke types:ischemic stroke,intracerebral hemorrhage,and subarachnoid hemorrhage.By integrating clinical and basic evidence,it elaborates on the role of the glymphatic system in PSCI and proposes a unified pathological model centered on impaired glymphatic clearance:although the initial pathological events differ among ischemic stroke,spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage,and subarachnoid hemorrhage,all can lead to the loss of perivascular aquaporin-4(AQP4)polarity,triggering glym-phatic system dysfunction.This results in impaired clearance of metabolic waste and toxic products,amplified neuroinflammation,and ultimately converges into a common pathway of cognitive impairment.This provides a theoretical basis and direction for de-veloping novel prevention and treatment strategies for post-stroke cognitive impairment in the future.
Keywords：post-stroke cognitive impairmentglymphatic systemaquaporin 4
Publication Date：2026-01-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-16(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 50-54 )