Dura Mater Inflammation as a Driver of Cognitive Dysfunction via Glymphatic Pain Signaling Suppression

Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as a contributor to psychiatric disorders, yet the mechanistic links between inflammation and cognitive dysfunction remain insufficiently defined. This paper proposes a novel hypothesis: that inflammation of the dura mater results in painful metabolic waste clearance through the glymphatic system, prompting the brain to downregulate high-demand cognitive processes as an adaptive response to minimize further waste production and mitigate discomfort. This protective mechanism, while evolutionarily advantageous in the short term, may underlie the chronic cognitive dysfunction seen across a spectrum of psychiatric and neuroinflammatory conditions. We explore the anatomical, physiological, and theoretical foundations of this hypothesis and outline experimental strategies for empirical validation. This model offers a new framework for understanding and treating cognitive symptoms in mental illness.