Ever experienced a massage on your neck or face?
In just 5-10 minutes, it can make you feel so relaxed and refreshed, right?
Scientists have now unlocked the true secret behind this bliss. It's not just about muscle relaxation… it actually doubles the brain's internal cleaning process.
Researchers from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea conducted experiments on mice. They gently massaged the skin on the face and neck using mechanical techniques. The result? The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the brain's cleansing fluid — began to flow twice as fast.
Read more: If a pinch of antimatter explodes, it could destroy more than three times the damage of Hiroshima.
How does the brain clean itself?
Every day, our brain produces harmful proteins and waste. If accumulated, this waste can lead to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The brain expels this waste through CSF via lymphatic vessels. Scientists discovered that gently massaging the lymphatic vessels under the skin of the face and neck enhances their function.
Result: Brain waste is cleared more swiftly. This method also worked for elderly mice, whose cleaning systems had weakened. After the massage, their systems returned to normal levels.
Source: aajtak
Even Greater Revelations
Scientists found entirely new pathways from the brain to the facial lymph nodes. These pathways functioned well even in older mice, suggesting that face-neck massage can enhance brain cleansing as we age.
What Does the Future Hold?
A small, wearable device for neck massage might be developed for home use. Doctors could easily utilize it in clinics as an affordable, non-medicated method to prevent or slow diseases like Alzheimer's. Although these tests were conducted on mice, extensive research is underway on humans. Scientists remain very hopeful.
Read more: Where did the 'coolness' of February go? Climate changes are giving alarming signs.
So, Why Do Neck Massages Feel So Good?
Because your brain secretly whispers –
Wow! I'm getting cleaned.
Next time someone gives your neck a squeeze, just close your eyes and enjoy. Your brain is genuinely thanking you. Make it a habit to give your neck and face a gentle 5-10 minute massage regularly. You don't need expensive gizmos – hands work just fine. Such small health habits are the secret to a long life and a sharp mind.
