The impact of cerebrovascular aging on vascular cognitive impairment and dementia

DOI

10.1016/j.arr.2016.09.007

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2017

Publication Title

Ageing Research Reviews

Volume

34

First Page

15

Last Page

29

ISSN

15681637

Keywords

Blood-brain barrier, Hypoperfusion, Vascular aging, White matter

Abstract

As human life expectancy rises, the aged population will increase. Aging is accompanied by changes in tissue structure, often resulting in functional decline. For example, aging within blood vessels contributes to a decrease in blood flow to important organs, potentially leading to organ atrophy and loss of function. In the central nervous system, cerebral vascular aging can lead to loss of the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, eventually resulting in cognitive and sensorimotor decline. One of the major of types of cognitive dysfunction due to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). In spite of recent progress in clinical and experimental VCID research, our understanding of vascular contributions to the pathogenesis of VCID is still very limited. In this review, we summarize recent findings on VCID, with a focus on vascular age-related pathologies and their contribution to the development of this condition.

Open Access

Green Accepted

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