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Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Soluble Biomarkers of Cerebrovascular Pathologies
Kate E Foley1,2, Donna M Wilcock1,2
1Stark Neurosciences Research Institute (K.E.F., D.M.W.), Indiana University, Indianapolis.
Insights
Blood-based biomarkers for vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) are emerging. This review explores promising candidates and ongoing initiatives to detect VCID, which often co-occurs with Alzheimer disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) describes cognitive decline from cerebrovascular issues.
- VCID frequently co-occurs with Alzheimer disease, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
- Current blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer disease are advanced, but VCID biomarkers are nascent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current pathways for identifying blood-based biomarkers of cerebrovascular dysfunction.
- To highlight promising candidate biomarkers for VCID.
- To describe ongoing initiatives in VCID blood-based biomarker discovery.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of imaging and pathological studies.
- Analysis of research pathways for cerebrovascular dysfunction markers.
- Summary of ongoing biomarker discovery initiatives.
Main Results:
- VCID is a heterogeneous condition with diverse pathological and temporal characteristics.
- Several promising candidate blood-based biomarkers are emerging for VCID.
- Significant efforts are underway to develop sensitive and specific VCID biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Developing blood-based biomarkers for VCID is crucial due to its prevalence and comorbidity with Alzheimer disease.
- Despite challenges, progress is being made in identifying reliable VCID markers.
- Future research will focus on validating and implementing these biomarkers for clinical use.
Abstract:
Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is an all-encompassing term that describes cognitive impairment due to cerebrovascular origins. With the advancement of imaging and pathological studies, we now understand that VCID is often comorbid with Alzheimer disease. While researchers in the Alzheimer disease field have been working for years to establish and test blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer disease diagnosis, prognosis, clinical therapy discovery, and early detection, blood-based biomarkers for VCID are in their infancy and also face challenges. VCID is heterogeneous, comprising many different pathological entities (ischemic, or hemorrhagic), and spatial and temporal differences (acute or chronic). This review highlights pathways that are aiding the search for sensitive and specific blood-based cerebrovascular dysfunction markers, describes promising candidates, and explains ongoing initiatives to discover blood-based VCID biomarkers.
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