The brain heavily relies on a constant blood supply for its undisturbed function. During the aging process, the cerebrovascular network is subject to adaptive or malfunctional changes, which include increased vascular wall stiffness, decreased vascular density, altered barrier function, impaired microvascular reactivity, and weakened remodeling potential. Next to alterations at fine anatomical and functional levels, the molecular biology of cerebrovascular endothelial cells shows senescence-related changes. All these age-related cerebrovascular events can accumulate and lead to cognitive impairment and memory decline.
The symptoms of cerebrovascular aging may be assessed with neuroimaging tools in patients or analyzed post mortem. On the other hand, the causal interactions of the underlying processes are explored in experimental systems at molecular, cellular, tissue and organism levels. The risks of the transformation from physiological to pathological aging, and the risk to develop devastating neurodegenerative disorders of cerebrovascular origin will be explored in this collection.
The aim of the present Research Topic is to bring together experts on the mechanisms underlying cerebrovascular aging and its involvement in cognitive decline. Authors are welcome to contribute to this collection by submitting original research, review articles, opinions, and perspectives stemming from their backgrounds and specialties.
The brain heavily relies on a constant blood supply for its undisturbed function. During the aging process, the cerebrovascular network is subject to adaptive or malfunctional changes, which include increased vascular wall stiffness, decreased vascular density, altered barrier function, impaired microvascular reactivity, and weakened remodeling potential. Next to alterations at fine anatomical and functional levels, the molecular biology of cerebrovascular endothelial cells shows senescence-related changes. All these age-related cerebrovascular events can accumulate and lead to cognitive impairment and memory decline.
The symptoms of cerebrovascular aging may be assessed with neuroimaging tools in patients or analyzed post mortem. On the other hand, the causal interactions of the underlying processes are explored in experimental systems at molecular, cellular, tissue and organism levels. The risks of the transformation from physiological to pathological aging, and the risk to develop devastating neurodegenerative disorders of cerebrovascular origin will be explored in this collection.
The aim of the present Research Topic is to bring together experts on the mechanisms underlying cerebrovascular aging and its involvement in cognitive decline. Authors are welcome to contribute to this collection by submitting original research, review articles, opinions, and perspectives stemming from their backgrounds and specialties.
