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Author Spotlight: Stimulation-Based Approach to Improve Cerebral Blood Flow in Alzheimer's Model
Published on: June 2, 2023
Cerebral Perfusion Enhancing Interventions: A New Strategy for the Prevention of Alzheimer Dementia
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Insights
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases contribute to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Novel therapies, including drugs and photobiomodulation, aim to improve brain blood flow and energy to prevent or treat cognitive impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are significant risk factors for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- These conditions, exacerbated by aging, lead to reduced cerebral perfusion and neuronal energy deficits.
- Long-term brain hypoperfusion, stemming from cardiac and vascular issues, is linked to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel therapeutic strategies for preventing or treating cognitive decline and AD.
- To explore pharmacological agents and photobiomodulation as potential treatments for improving cerebral perfusion and neuronal energy.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental pharmacological agents, including Rho kinase inhibitors, neurometabolic energy boosters, sirtuins, and vascular growth factors.
- Examination of photobiomodulation (low-level laser therapy) for non-invasive stimulation of mitochondrial energy production in nerve cells.
Main Results:
- Pharmacological agents and photobiomodulation show promise in targeting the underlying mechanisms of cognitive decline.
- These interventions aim to enhance cerebral blood flow and neuronal energy metabolism.
- Non-invasive methods like photobiomodulation offer a new avenue for therapeutic intervention.
Conclusions:
- Novel pharmacological agents and photobiomodulation represent potential therapeutic tools for combating cognitive impairment and AD.
- Improving cerebral perfusion and neuronal energy is a key strategy for preventing dementia.
- These approaches may help reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are major risk factors in the development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD). These cardio-cerebral disorders promote a variety of vascular risk factors which in the presence of advancing age are prone to markedly reduce cerebral perfusion and create a neuronal energy crisis. Long-term hypoperfusion of the brain evolves mainly from cardiac structural pathology and brain vascular insufficiency. Brain hypoperfusion in the elderly is strongly associated with the development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and both conditions are presumed to be precursors of Alzheimer dementia. A therapeutic target to prevent or treat MCI and consequently reduce the incidence of AD aims to elevate cerebral perfusion using novel pharmacological agents. As reviewed here, the experimental pharmaca include the use of Rho kinase inhibitors, neurometabolic energy boosters, sirtuins and vascular growth factors. In addition, a compelling new technique in laser medicine called photobiomodulation is reviewed. Photobiomodulation is based on the use of low level laser therapy to stimulate mitochondrial energy production non-invasively in nerve cells. The use of novel pharmaca and photobiomodulation may become important tools in the treatment or prevention of cognitive decline that can lead to dementia.
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