The global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing and expected to increase in the future. For example, dementia is expected to triple over the next 30 years. This increase is only partly explained by the fact that the global population is aging. Normal aging is associated with hormonal imbalances, reduced cerebrovascular function and cognition, as well as gut dysbiosis, and increased chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. These are all exacerbated by a reduction in cardiometabolic health, which further reduces cerebrovascular function and cognition, while promoting neuroinflammation. These changes reduce the ability of the cerebrovasculature to respond to the metabolic demands of the brain, as well as to maintain blood-brain-barrier integrity, both of which have a substantial impact overall brain function.
Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity and poor nutritional behaviour, that reduce cardiometabolic health and lead to conditions such as obesity, may also exacerbate these changes beyond those that are associated with normal aging. However, the mechanisms by which these changes are interrelated and promote decline of overall brain health are less well understood. A large population of middle-aged to older adults globally have reduced cardiometabolic health and suffer from obesity and/or its comorbidities, thus predisposing them to the development of a neurodegenerative disease, such as dementia, and a reduced quality of life.
Therefore, this research topic aims to facilitate a collection of research that focuses on recent advances in broadening the scientific understanding of potential treatments and/or interventions, that may improve brain health in middle-aged to older adults and/or those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Potential mechanisms and interactions between hormonal imbalances, gut dysbiosis, increased chronic low-grade inflammation and increased oxidative stress that lead to reduced cerebrovascular function, neuroinflammation and overall brain function will also be collated.
Finally, this research topic will aim to provide insight into the mechanisms by which a reduction in cardiometabolic health exacerbates these age-related changes throughout the lifespan. It is imperative that the complex interaction between these elements and how they influence each other is understood. This will then provide a better understanding of not only how these factors reduce brain health, but also lead to potential inexpensive evidence-based strategies being employed that may improve these outcomes and quality of life.
This research topic welcomes original research, perspective, opinion, mini-review, and review articles on the elements described above with a particular focus on cognition and cerebrovascular function. These may include, but are not limited to:
• Lifestyle interventions and novel treatments that may improve brain health in at risk populations (e.g. those with metabolic syndrome)
• Pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiometabolic diseases on reduced brain health;
• Gut-brain-microbiota axis and its effect on brain health
The global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing and expected to increase in the future. For example, dementia is expected to triple over the next 30 years. This increase is only partly explained by the fact that the global population is aging. Normal aging is associated with hormonal imbalances, reduced cerebrovascular function and cognition, as well as gut dysbiosis, and increased chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. These are all exacerbated by a reduction in cardiometabolic health, which further reduces cerebrovascular function and cognition, while promoting neuroinflammation. These changes reduce the ability of the cerebrovasculature to respond to the metabolic demands of the brain, as well as to maintain blood-brain-barrier integrity, both of which have a substantial impact overall brain function.
Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity and poor nutritional behaviour, that reduce cardiometabolic health and lead to conditions such as obesity, may also exacerbate these changes beyond those that are associated with normal aging. However, the mechanisms by which these changes are interrelated and promote decline of overall brain health are less well understood. A large population of middle-aged to older adults globally have reduced cardiometabolic health and suffer from obesity and/or its comorbidities, thus predisposing them to the development of a neurodegenerative disease, such as dementia, and a reduced quality of life.
Therefore, this research topic aims to facilitate a collection of research that focuses on recent advances in broadening the scientific understanding of potential treatments and/or interventions, that may improve brain health in middle-aged to older adults and/or those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Potential mechanisms and interactions between hormonal imbalances, gut dysbiosis, increased chronic low-grade inflammation and increased oxidative stress that lead to reduced cerebrovascular function, neuroinflammation and overall brain function will also be collated.
Finally, this research topic will aim to provide insight into the mechanisms by which a reduction in cardiometabolic health exacerbates these age-related changes throughout the lifespan. It is imperative that the complex interaction between these elements and how they influence each other is understood. This will then provide a better understanding of not only how these factors reduce brain health, but also lead to potential inexpensive evidence-based strategies being employed that may improve these outcomes and quality of life.
This research topic welcomes original research, perspective, opinion, mini-review, and review articles on the elements described above with a particular focus on cognition and cerebrovascular function. These may include, but are not limited to:
• Lifestyle interventions and novel treatments that may improve brain health in at risk populations (e.g. those with metabolic syndrome)
• Pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiometabolic diseases on reduced brain health;
• Gut-brain-microbiota axis and its effect on brain health