A controversial Alzheimer's surgery is said to reverse symptoms

A controversial surgical procedure called deep cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis (dcLVA), which aims to treat Alzheimer's by improving brain waste drainage through the neck's lymphatic system, gained rapid popularity in China after viral videos showed dramatic patient recoveries, but scientific evidence for its effectiveness remains unclear and Chinese regulators have now restricted it to formal clinical trials. The procedure's pioneer, Chinese microsurgeon Qingping Xie, has been detained since September, and the medical community remains divided between qualified enthusiasm and deep skepticism about whether the surgery actually alters Alzheimer's disease or carries unacceptable risks. Thousands of patients paid substantial fees for the experimental surgery before restrictions were implemented, prompting calls for rigorous controlled studies to determine its true efficacy.