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Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
12:50

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly

Published on: April 14, 2014

Vascular dysfunction-The disregarded partner of Alzheimer's disease

Melanie D Sweeney1, Axel Montagne1, Abhay P Sagare1

  • 1Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|January 16, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Alzheimer

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a complex, multifactorial condition.
  • Vascular dysfunction is a significant, early contributor to AD pathophysiology.
  • The current AD Research Framework focuses on amyloid, tau, and neuronal injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the role of vascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.
  • To propose the integration of vascular imaging biomarkers into the AD Research Framework.
  • To improve understanding and treatment of AD by incorporating vascular factors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of evidence linking vascular dysfunction to AD.
  • Examination of neuroimaging techniques for assessing vascular changes (e.g., blood-brain barrier integrity, cerebral blood flow).
  • Discussion of established vascular imaging biomarkers for small vessel disease.

Main Results:

  • Vascular dysfunction is an early and critical component of AD.
  • Neuroimaging can effectively evaluate vascular contributions to AD.
  • Existing biomarkers for small vessel disease are well-characterized and readily applicable.

Conclusions:

  • Vascular factors are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Incorporating vascular imaging biomarkers into the AD Research Framework is recommended.
  • This integration can enhance AD diagnosis, treatment, and research efforts.

Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseaseBiomarkersBlood-brain barrierCerebral blood flowMRIVascular

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