Potential Role of Lymphovenous Bypass in Mitigating Alzheimer's Disease Dementia

This case report explores the therapeutic potential of lymphovenous bypass (LVB) surgery performed at the neck in neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. The subject is a 58-year-old woman who was previously healthy but began experiencing unexplained memory decline and frequent disorientation in the last 7 years, leading to an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Despite ongoing pharmaceutical therapy, her symptoms progressed to severe dementia accompanied by behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD). Her Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were both 0/30, and 18F-AV-45 PET/CT revealed abnormal brain amyloid load. For salvage therapy, she underwent lymphovenous bypasses on her neck bilaterally. Postoperatively, she got better MMSE and MoCA scores with dramatic improvement in communication and activity. 18F-AV-45 PET/CT scans four months after surgery indicated a reduction in abnormal brain amyloid deposits. This case report highlights the potential effectiveness of lymphovenous bypass surgery in reducing brain amyloid load and attenuating cognitive impairment and BPSD. Further research with animal experiments and clinical trials is necessary to confirm these findings.

Publication History

Received: 01 January 2025

Accepted after revision: 29 May 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
13 June 2025