In a major breakthrough, vessels have been identified that directly connect the brain with the immune system. The finding could help in further research and in finding treatment for neurological diseases.

Study’s lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Kipnis of the University of Virginia's Center for Brain Immunology and Glia said when the discovery of vessels was made they were completely surprised. It is so because as per textbooks these vessels do not exist.

The new study published in journal Nature has come up with a model of the lymphatic system that includes brain. The study researchers affirmed that the lymphatic system is not part of the immune system.

It has lymph, a clear fluid with white blood cells that helps in removing toxins from the body. The lymphatic is linked to every other system in body. But the researchers noticed something strange while looking their microscopes at slides having the membranes of mice’s brains.

The study researchers said that they have seen lymphatic vessels, not seen before above the base of the skull. One of the major reasons as to why these vessels were seen before could be as per Kipnis is these vessels are ‘well hidden’ behind a major blood vessel.

The observations were made in mice, and it is expected that the same anatomy is present in humans as well. The findings are preliminary and the researchers expect to come up with many new possibilities for treating many neurological disorders through therapies targeting lymphatic vessels of the brain.