Published: 11:28 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 11:44 BST, 1 September 2026
Could a two-hour operation to ‘replumb’ blood vessels in the neck stop dementia in its tracks – something no drug has been able to do?
That’s the tantalising prospect thrown up by results of a new trial, in which 83 patients in China with advanced dementia underwent the procedure and saw what researchers claim were ‘significant’ improvements in their condition.
It brings the total number of dementia patients in China to have had the experimental surgery to more than 2,000, with anecdotal reports of bedbound patients walking and communicating with loved ones again after the operation.
But the treatment is not without controversy, with many of the operations done on a private basis on extremely ill patients whose desperate families handed over tens of thousands of pounds in the hope that it would work.
As Good Health reported in April, Chinese authorities banned the surgery (unless as part of a research project) last year, over concerns about the lack of evidence on safety and effectiveness.
Nevertheless, the research is being closely monitored by dementia experts globally.
The procedure is relatively straightforward, likened by doctors to clearing a blocked drain to ‘flush out’ toxic proteins that are thought to cause dementia in the first place. Called lymphatic venous anastomosis (LVA), this type of treatment is already widely used on the NHS to tackle lymphoedema, swelling of the arms and legs due to a build-up of fluid.
The condition develops when surgeons remove lymph nodes (tiny nodules that filter out waste products from the bloodstream) to stop breast cancer spreading.
Researchers said: ‘All the patients exhibited enhanced alertness and vitality, characterised by increased responsiveness and improved engagement' (picture posed by models)
With the LVA procedure, a tiny incision is made under the armpit, then surgeons stitch the lymph vessel that’s full of fluid to a nearby vein – allowing the excess fluid to drain into the bloodstream. The benefits are well-established.
Now, researchers are experimenting with a similar technique, attaching lymph vessels in the neck to nearby veins in order to treat dementia. The brain has its own lymphatic drainage system, to dispose of waste and detritus left by cell activity.
As we age, the system becomes sluggish, allowing harmful proteins to accumulate. These can form deposits in the brain – amyloid plaques – which disrupt communication between cells and in turn harm cognitive function, eventually leading to dementia symptoms such as memory loss and confusion.
The surgery being investigated involves making a small incision in the neck just below the jaw. This gives the surgeon access to the deep cervical vein – which drains blood from the neck – where it runs parallel to a lymphatic vessel.
A hole is cut into the vein and the lymphatic vessel is stitched into place. The theory is that plaque-causing proteins can then drain away. The operation, which is done under general anaesthetic, takes about two hours.
