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Susceptibility to capillary plugging can predict brain region specific vessel loss with aging
Ben Schager1, Craig E Brown1,2
1Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Summary
Aging brains experience vessel loss, particularly in white matter. Regional differences in vessel loss are linked to capillary plugging susceptibility, not just vessel width or tortuosity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Age-related cerebral small vessel disease is a significant concern.
- Understanding regional vulnerabilities in brain vasculature is crucial for aging research.
- Mechanisms driving differential vessel loss across brain regions remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional differences in brain vessel loss with aging.
- To identify potential mechanisms underlying these regional variations.
- To determine if capillary plugging susceptibility predicts age-related vessel loss.
Main Methods:
- Quantified vessel length, tortuosity, and width in 15 brain regions of young adult and aged mice.
- Mapped microsphere-induced capillary obstructions to assess plugging susceptibility.
- Correlated vessel loss patterns with regional artery supply and obstruction density.
Main Results:
- Vessel loss was most pronounced in white matter, followed by cortical and subcortical grey matter.
- Specific regions like the visual cortex, amygdala, and thalamus showed no age-related vessel decline.
- Regions with higher densities of capillary obstructions exhibited greater vessel loss with aging.
Conclusions:
- Age-related cerebral vessel loss is region-specific.
- Regional susceptibility to capillary plugging is a key factor in age-related vessel loss.
- Vessel width and tortuosity changes do not reliably predict regional vessel loss.
