Lymph Nodes as Drainage–Immune Regulators and a Systemic Contributor to Neurodegeneration: A Hypothesis

This work presents a systemic hypothesis proposing that lymph nodes function not only as passive immune filters but as active regulators of tissue drainage, immune calibration, and biomechanical organization. The hypothesis suggests that chronic inflammation and fibrosis of lymph nodes may represent an underrecognized upstream factor contributing to neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The manuscript integrates concepts from immunology, lymphatic biology, neuroimmunology, and systems physiology to reframe neurodegeneration as a multi-level systemic process rather than an exclusively brain-centered pathology. Testable predictions and research directions are outlined, while therapeutic protocols and diagnostic algorithms are intentionally not disclosed. This publication is intended as a conceptual and mechanistic framework to stimulate interdisciplinary research and does not constitute medical advice or clinical guidance.