The human brain is highly metabolically active and expends about 20% of the body’s energy just for normal functioning. Neuronal activation locally leads to a transient increase in cerebral blood flow – a process called neurovascular coupling, thus ensuring that bioenergetic substrates are efficiently delivered to that region of the brain. Neurovascular coupling is brought about by the coordinated action of neurons, astrocytes and other glial cells, and endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells forming the blood vessels, collectively termed as the neurovascular unit. The neurovascular unit also functions to keep the blood brain barrier (BBB) intact. Normal neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling as well as BBB function are essential to maintain brain homeostasis and for proper cognitive function. As the brain ages, there is significant impairment of neurovascular coupling and the integrity of the BBB which leads to insufficient blood flow to the brain, reduced delivery of oxygen and bioenergetic substrates and the clearance of toxic substances. This ‘uncoupling’ has been causally linked with faster cognitive decline. The aim of this research topic is to provide the latest advances in basic and translational research in neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling in aging. We invite submissions encompassing:
1. Neurovascular uncoupling neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
2. Dysfunction of the BBB in neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Metabolic dysregulation (e.g., hypercholesterolemia or insulin resistance) as risk factors that predict cognitive decline and dementia.
4. Identification of molecular mechanisms and druggable targets as well as biomarkers in the neurovascular unit to prevent or rescue aging-related cognitive decline.
We invite original research with animal or cellular models or bioinformatics and review articles as well as commentaries on the topic.
The human brain is highly metabolically active and expends about 20% of the body’s energy just for normal functioning. Neuronal activation locally leads to a transient increase in cerebral blood flow – a process called neurovascular coupling, thus ensuring that bioenergetic substrates are efficiently delivered to that region of the brain. Neurovascular coupling is brought about by the coordinated action of neurons, astrocytes and other glial cells, and endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells forming the blood vessels, collectively termed as the neurovascular unit. The neurovascular unit also functions to keep the blood brain barrier (BBB) intact. Normal neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling as well as BBB function are essential to maintain brain homeostasis and for proper cognitive function. As the brain ages, there is significant impairment of neurovascular coupling and the integrity of the BBB which leads to insufficient blood flow to the brain, reduced delivery of oxygen and bioenergetic substrates and the clearance of toxic substances. This ‘uncoupling’ has been causally linked with faster cognitive decline. The aim of this research topic is to provide the latest advances in basic and translational research in neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling in aging. We invite submissions encompassing:
1. Neurovascular uncoupling neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
2. Dysfunction of the BBB in neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Metabolic dysregulation (e.g., hypercholesterolemia or insulin resistance) as risk factors that predict cognitive decline and dementia.
4. Identification of molecular mechanisms and druggable targets as well as biomarkers in the neurovascular unit to prevent or rescue aging-related cognitive decline.
We invite original research with animal or cellular models or bioinformatics and review articles as well as commentaries on the topic.