Exploring the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Cognitive Impairment Based on the Relationship Between "Kidney Governing Water" and the Glymphatic System
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.11.006
- VernacularTitle:从“肾主水”和胶质淋巴系统的关系探讨血管性认知障碍的辨治
- Author:
Senlin CHEN
1
;
Yu CHEN
1
;
Yulong ZOU
1
;
Zhichen WANG
1
;
Gengzhao CHEN
1
;
Qianhong ZHU
2
;
Saie HUANG
1
Author Information
1. Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Fuzhou，350003
2. Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
vascular cognitive impairment;
glymphatic system;
cerebrospinal fluid;
kidney governing water;
tonifying the kidney and resolving phlegm;
activating blood circulation and unblocking collaterals
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;66(11):1114-1118
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Starting from the intrinsic relationship between the glymphatic system and the core pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment （VCI）， including internal dampness， phlegm turbidity， and blood stasis， this paper explores clinical approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of VCI. Dysfunction of the kidney's role in governing water leads to the accumulation of dampness， phlegm turbidity， and blood stasis， which are key pathological mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of VCI. The glymphatic system participates in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the central nervous system， and its impairment can result in reduced clearance of soluble metabolic waste products in the brain， a crucial factor contributing to VCI. It is proposed that the "kidney governing water" function is related to the glymphatic system， and that the cerebral collaterals correspond structurally to the glymphatic pathways. Clinically， therapies aimed at tonifying the kidney， resolving phlegm， activating blood circulation， and unblocking collaterals， such as modified Kaixin Powder （开心散）， which eliminates dampness and turbidity， transforms phlegm， restores consciousness， enhances cognition， and strengthens the brain， are commonly employed. These treatments may improve VCI prognosis by regulating glymphatic system function， providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of VCI with traditional Chinese medicine.
