Cerebrovascular pathology: the dark side of neurodegeneration

Excerpt

It is widely recognised that cerebrovascular disorders contribute to the burden of physical morbidity and mortality in a major way. More profoundly, injury or ageing-related structural and functional disturbances in the macro- or microcirculation of the brain make it vulnerable to cognitive dysfunction and change in behaviour. Although cause and effect are not completely understood, it is apparent that cerebral hypoperfusion and impaired drainage of interstitial fluid and soluble metabolites are recurrent themes during brain ageing. The cluster on cerebrovascular disorders in this issue of Acta Neuropathologica focuses on pathophysiological mechanisms associated with brain ageing and dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, bringing together the latest results, novel angles and working hypotheses. The following articles advance our knowledge of the clinical, diagnostic, imaging and physiological aspects as they relate to the neuropathology of cerebrovascular disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. …