Cardiovascular Aging Contributes to Brain Aging

The brain is an energy-hungry organ, and is sensitive to reductions in the blood supply of oxygen and nutrients. Cardiovascular aging can reduce that supply, whether through conditions such as heart failure, or the progressive loss of density in capillary networks that occurs throughout the body with advancing age, or an accelerated pace of rupture of tiny vessels in the brain, or disruption of the blood-brain barrier, allowing unwanted molecules and cells to enter the brain. Thus, as researchers here note, we would expect to see correlations between cardiovascular disease, or risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and damage and dysfunction in the brain. Age-related changes in the cerebrovascular system include structural reorganization of the vascular beds, reduced vessel elasticity, and disintegration of the blood-brain barrier. Further observations include reduced cerebral perfusion, and increased lesion burden in the cerebral white matter. Lesions can be observed as white-matter hyperintensities (WMHs) upon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They arise from ischemia, hypoperfusion, blood-brain-barrier breakage, and inflammation and are considered manifestations of cerebral small-vessel disease. WMHs are highly prevalent in aging and predictive of broad-ranged cognitive decline, dementia, and mortality. Dopamine (DA) has been identified as an important modulator of cognitive functions. Maladaptive DA signaling typically gives rise to cognitive impairment,...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs