Little is known about age-related cognitive decline, its course and molecular mechanism. In addition, the contribution of age-related cognitive decline to neurodegenerative disease is unknown. While the greatest risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease is aging, the molecular deficits that takes place during aging, leading to neuronal vulnerability and progressive loss of memory are unknown. The two leading causes of dementia in the elderly are Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), and these two conditions may coexist. This Topic will shed new light on recent discoveries in brain aging, and the mechanism of declined brain plasticity, present new information about the detection of cognitive deficits by biomarkers, brain imaging and behavior. In addition this Topic will encompass new aspects about cognitive decline in AD and VCI, in humans and in animal models, as well as aging-related brain trauma, such as stroke. Finally, this Topic will review the operational definition and practical aspects of the neuropsychology of VCI, molecular and cellular aspects and vascular risk factors for AD and VCI and prospects for prevention.
Little is known about age-related cognitive decline, its course and molecular mechanism. In addition, the contribution of age-related cognitive decline to neurodegenerative disease is unknown. While the greatest risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease is aging, the molecular deficits that takes place during aging, leading to neuronal vulnerability and progressive loss of memory are unknown. The two leading causes of dementia in the elderly are Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), and these two conditions may coexist. This Topic will shed new light on recent discoveries in brain aging, and the mechanism of declined brain plasticity, present new information about the detection of cognitive deficits by biomarkers, brain imaging and behavior. In addition this Topic will encompass new aspects about cognitive decline in AD and VCI, in humans and in animal models, as well as aging-related brain trauma, such as stroke. Finally, this Topic will review the operational definition and practical aspects of the neuropsychology of VCI, molecular and cellular aspects and vascular risk factors for AD and VCI and prospects for prevention.
