Cerebrovascular gene linked to Alzheimer's disease pathology

There is already considerable evidence from epidemiological, pathological and clinical reports that vascular factors are crucial in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebral hypoperfusion has been shown to be a preclinical condition and a most accurate indicator for predicting whether people will develop AD. Now, a new study by Zlokovic and colleagues reveals that the vascular gene MEOX2 has a low expression in cultured brain endothelial cells from AD patients. This, together with evidence linking a dysfunctional cerebrovasculature to the pathogenesis of AD, suggests that the homeobox gene MEOX2 downregulation provides a therapeutic target to AD and a better understanding of this disorder.