Reviewing Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in the Context of Alzheimer ' s Disease

The biochemistry of the central nervous system is separated from the biochemistry of the rest of the body by the blood-brain barrier, a specialized lining of cells that wrap blood vessels that pass through the brain. Only some molecules and cells are permitted to pass into and out of the brain. Like all bodily systems, the blood-brain barrier breaks down with age, leading to leakage of unwanted molecules and cells into the brain, where they can provoke inflammation and dysfunction. This is thought to provide a significant contribution to the onset and further progression of age-related neurodegenerative conditions, given that blood-brain barrier failure appears somewhat in advance of other aspects of neurodegeneration in humans and animal models. In today's open access paper, researchers review what is known of blood-brain barrier dysfunction specifically in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Relationships are observed between blood-brain barrier leakage and mechanisms involved in the production and aggregation of amyloid-β. Despite the failures of amyloid-β clearance to produce meaningful benefits in clinical trials, the build up of amyloid-β is still considered a core process in Alzheimer's disease, a foundational pathology that sets the stage for later, more severe pathology involving inflammation and tau aggregation leading to widespread cell death. Reconsidering the role of blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease: From delivery to target The...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs