TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ehsanifar, Mojtaba
AU  - Gholami, Akram
AU  - Shenasi, Reyhaneh
AU  - Pahnavar, Nioosha
AU  - Golmohammadi, Maryam
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/04/27
TI  - Exposure to Environmental Toxicants: Glymphatic System Dysfunction and Its Implications on Neurodevelopmental Disorders
JO  - OBM Neurobiology
SP  - 333
VL  - 10
IS  - 02
AB  - The glymphatic system is a glia-dependent network surrounding blood vessels that facilitates the exchange of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid, playing a crucial role in clearing neuro-metabolites from the brain. This system’s efficiency in transporting waste significantly increases during non-rapid eye movement non-REM sleep. Recent findings suggests that malfunctioning of the glymphatic system might be linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia (SCZ), all of which often correlate with disturbed sleep patterns. Furthermore, various environmental toxicants have been shown to affect neurodevelopment negatively. Exposure to these toxicants early in life disrupts the sleep/Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)/Aquaporin-4 connections, impairs the glymphatic system’s ability to clear substances like amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau proteins, and inflammatory mediators, ultimately skewing neurodevelopment toward an increased risk of disorders. In summary, this narrative review consolidates existing evidence. It highlights key priorities for examining the relationship between the exposome, the glymphatic system, and neurodevelopmental pathways, aiming to pave the way for future research and therapeutic interventions.
SN  - 2573-4407
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2602333
DO  - 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2602333
ID  - Ehsanifar2026
ER  -