The aging of the blood vessels supplying the brain into a state of dysfunction provides an important contribution to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions. There are many aspects to this vascular aging, including: loss of capillary density over time that reduces the ability of the vasculature to deliver sufficient nutrients to cells in brain tissue; the atherosclerosis that narrows and weakens major vessels with fatty deposits; the disruption of normal function of the endothelium, the inner layer of blood vessels; disruption of the normal function of the smooth muscle tha…
The Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in the Aging of the Brain's Vasculature
The aging of the blood vessels supplying the brain into a state of dysfunction provides an important contribution to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions. There are many aspects to this vascular aging, including: loss of capillary density over time that reduces the ability of the vasculature to deliver sufficient nutrients to cells in brain tissue; the atherosclerosis that narrows and weakens major vessels with fatty deposits; the disruption of normal function of the endothelium, the inner layer of blood vessels; disruption of the normal function of the smooth muscle tha…