Exploring Dysfunction in Vascular Dementia, Alzheimer's, and Atherosclerosis

Abstract

An optimal cerebral blood supply is absolutely critical for healthy brain function; disruptions can lead to devastating neurological consequences. Neurovascular coupling, the intrinsic regulation of cerebral blood flow in response to neural activity, involves a complex interplay between various brain cell types. Evidence of its breakdown, or dysfunction in vascular dementia, is observed across a spectrum of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer's.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic syndrome impacting the integrity of major blood vessels, including those supplying the brain, is hypothesized to impair cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling, ultimately resulting in cerebrovascular dysfunction. This review delves into the mechanisms of neurovascular coupling in both healthy and diseased states, exploring how atherosclerosis can instigate cerebrovascular dysfunction, potentially leading to cognitive decline and stroke. A deeper understanding of neurovascular coupling's mechanisms in health and disease offers a pathway to developing therapies that prevent its breakdown, crucially aiding in the treatment of vascular brain diseases such as vascular dementia, Alzheimer's, and stroke.

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