Brain capillaries in AD

What is it about?

The vascular factor may be an important component of the spectrum of the pathogenesis of AD. Mixed findings at autopsy, plead in favor of a vascular component, concerning mostly large vessel, in AD pathology, and vascular comorbidity may be present in a substantial number of patients suffered from AD. Electron Microscopy revealed, that the most frequent morphological alterations of the brain capillaries in AD consist of thickness, splitting and duplication of the basement membrane, reduction of the length of tight junctions, decrease of the number of tight junctions per vessel length, associated as a rule, with morphological alterations of the mitochondria of the endothelial cells, the pericytes and the perivascular astrocytic processes.The dysfunction of the endothelial cells and the disruption of the BBB may induce serious impairment in the transport system of the brain.

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Why is it important?

The impairment of the brain capillaries in structures of the brain, which are crucial for the homeostatic equilibrium of the body, such as the hypothalamic nuclei , may induce autonomic dysfunction, which usually occurs in the advanced stages of AD, affecting dramatically the the viability.

Perspectives