Novel neck bypass procedure shows early promise in improving memory and cognitive symptoms
Singapore is testing an unconventional new approach to Alzheimer’s treatment, with doctors at Changi General Hospital exploring whether a surgery traditionally used for lymphoedema could help the brain clear toxic proteins linked to dementia.
CGH Launches A First-Of-Its-Kind Trial
Changi General Hospital announced on April 7 that it is conducting a two-year clinical trial called Cervical Lymphatico-Venous Bypass for Alzheimer’s Disease, or CLyVeB-AD-1, involving four patients. The trial is the first regulated study of its kind in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and it explores whether a microsurgical procedure can improve the brain’s natural waste-clearance process in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
How The Surgery Is Meant To Work
The procedure uses lymphaticovenous anastomosis, or LVA, a microsurgical technique commonly used to treat lymphoedema by improving fluid drainage. In this Alzheimer’s application, lymphatic structures in the neck are connected to nearby veins to help clear protein-carrying brain fluid more efficiently. Doctors believe this may support the removal of toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, especially since the brain’s fluid system plays a role in washing away metabolic waste during deep sleep.
Doctors Adapted The Technique From China
The multidisciplinary CGH team traveled to Hangzhou in 2024 to study the method, where LVA had first been used in Alzheimer’s treatment. After returning, the team secured Institutional Review Board approval and registered the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. Four patients aged between 61 and 73 underwent the procedure in January 2025 and have since been monitored closely as doctors assess the treatment’s impact over time.
Early Patient Results Show Encouraging Signs
According to the doctors, the patients have shown post-surgery improvements in areas such as memory loss, cognitive function, and behavioral symptoms. Brain scans at the six-month mark have also shown steady improvement that may suggest greater stability. One patient with long-standing depression and anxiety appeared less anxious and in better spirits after surgery, while another who had struggled with language became more interactive and communicated more effectively.
Search Continues For Better Alzheimer’s Treatment
CGH said the trial reflects the urgent need for more effective treatment options, given that about 100,000 people in Singapore live with dementia and around 70 percent have Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors noted that current drugs can only slow progression to a limited extent, while some newer medications carry side effects and require regular brain scans. Older medications mainly ease symptoms without changing disease progression, making this surgical approach a potentially important area of innovation if larger trials continue to show positive results.
CGH’s new Alzheimer’s trial highlights how Singapore is pushing the boundaries of medical innovation in response to one of the country’s most pressing aging-related health challenges. For Singaporeans, the study offers early hope that treatment may one day move beyond symptom control toward improving the brain’s own ability to clear harmful proteins. For Indonesians and Singaporeans alike, it also shows how advances in surgery and neuroscience could reshape dementia care across the region in the years ahead.
Sources: CNA (2026) , Straits Times (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Alzheimer’s Trial, CGH Alzheimer’s Surgery, Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis, Dementia Treatment Singapore, Alzheimer’s Innovation, Southeast Asia Clinical Trial
