Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Induction and Micro-CT Imaging of Cerebral Cavernous Malformations in Mouse Model
Published on: September 4, 2017
Cerebral microangiopathy in the mosaic of new discoveries
Pavel Kalvach1, Daniela Gregová
1Department of Neurology, Charles University, 3rd Medical Faculty, FNKV, Srobárova 50, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic.
Insights
Vascular dementia arises from three levels of cerebral deterioration: major infarcts, multiple lacunes, and microangiopathy causing leukoaraiosis, all leading to cognitive disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The concept of dementia has evolved from primary degeneration to include vascular contributions.
- Cerebrovascular diseases are a significant cause of cognitive impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cerebral deterioration on vascular grounds at three distinct levels.
- To correlate neuroradiologic findings with cognitive disorders caused by vascular pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on vascular dementia, focusing on neuroradiologic aspects.
- Analysis of findings from ultrasound, CT, and MRI in relation to vascular lesions.
- Discussion of diffusion alterations and their relation to ischemia.
Main Results:
- Identified three levels of vascular deterioration: major infarcts, multiple lacunes, and microangiopathy (leukoaraiosis).
- These vascular pathologies are directly linked to the development of cognitive disorders.
- Neuroradiologic techniques reveal characteristic changes in vessel walls and cerebral blood flow.
Conclusions:
- Vascular factors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of dementia.
- Understanding the different levels of vascular damage is key to diagnosing and managing dementia.
- Further research into ultrastructural changes and tissue deterioration thresholds is warranted.
Abstract:
After a short historical note on the diversion of the vascular concept of dementia from that of primary degeneration, this review describes cerebral deterioration on vascular grounds in three levels. Occlusions of big vessels with a single major infarct, middle calibre vasculopathy with multiple lacunes and finally microangiopathy causing leukoaraiosis--all these three entities produce cognitive disorders. Changes in the vessel wall, in cerebral blood flow velocity, the territorial and interterritorial rules for the location of malacia or lacunes are reviewed using neuroradiologic aspects revealed by ultrasound, by CT and MRI. Alterations in diffusion and their measurements by MRI are discussed in regard to ultrastructural reactions to ischaemia. Thresholds for tissue deterioration are shown in association with ATP depletion and with pathologic compounds in the interstitium.
