Neck lymph node removal linked to increased risk of cognitive decline
Surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck may interfere with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage from the brain, contributing to cognitive impairment, according to new multicenter research led by Weill Cornell Medicine scientists.
A new study led by Weill Cornell Medicine scientists has found that surgery to remove neck lymph nodes in patients with head and neck cancer may increase the risk of cognitive decline. The research, published in Neuron, suggests that the procedure can disrupt the brain's waste-clearance system, leading to fluid buildup and oxidative stress that damages cell proteins and triggers inflammation.
The study analyzed records of 1,035 patients who underwent neck lymphadenectomy without additional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, finding that about 18% of patients younger than 65 experienced cognitive impairment within two years after the procedure, compared to 4% to 6% in the general population. The researchers also discovered accelerated widening of the ventricular temporal horns in brain MRIs after surgery, indicating brain atrophy or shrinkage, particularly when lymph nodes were removed from both sides of the neck.
While the findings suggest an association between cervical lymphadenectomy and later cognitive impairment, further research is needed to confirm a direct link.
Brief written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
