Substantial advances in unraveling the complexities of brain health have been achieved in recent years: the application of artificial intelligence, advancing MR neuroimaging techniques, evolving diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, to name just a few. These advancements have substantially shaped our understanding of the diagnosis of, and intervention against, cerebrovascular disorders as a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and significantly improved clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Cerebrovascular disorders are common and constitute a complex, multifactorial, and heterogeneous condition which may be divided into two subgroups: large-vessel disease, i.e., including the circle of Willis, and small-vessel disease (CSVD), affecting the small arteries and arterioles supplying the cortex as well as the white and deep grey matter. The most common conditions affecting cerebral large arteries include stroke subtypes with large-vessel occlusion, atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion, and aneurysmal rupture.
Cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD) refers to a group of pathological processes that affect the small arteries, arterioles, venules, and capillaries of the brain. CSVD can manifest as arteriolosclerosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or lipohyalinosis, or as a combination, leading to ischemic as well as hemorrhagic complications. CSVD accounts for a quarter of all acute ischemic strokes and is a leading cause of non-traumatic spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Large- and small-vessel disease are intertwined, yet the underlying mechanisms of their linked pathogenesis are not fully understood. They are associated with well-established vascular risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterinemia, diabetes, tobacco use, and advanced age, with injuries in cerebral small and large vessels critically involved in vascular cognitive decline.
While surgical or endovascular treatment of large-vessel disease has seen significant advances, CSVD remains inaccessible to endovascular therapy, requiring medical therapy and lifestyle modification to mitigate risk factors. Despite important clinical accomplishments, continuing research is required to elucidate promising diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic options for the wide spectrum of cerebrovascular diseases.
In this Research Topic, we aim to deliver comprehensive insights into vascular diseases of the brain, with a particular focus on CSVD, to evaluate and summarize novel insights, current challenges, and the most recent advances in the field, and to highlight future perspectives. Furthermore, we aim to assess recent scientific and clinical progress in the development, validation, and application of AI toolkits and machine learning in the detection, clinical decision-making, and outcome prediction of cerebrovascular disease.
We welcome the submission of original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, narrative reviews, research or technical reports, and opinions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• The neuroradiological evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of cerebrovascular diseases, particularly CSVD
• Advances in MR imaging of cerebrovascular diseases which are applicable to CSVD
• The application of AI and machine learning in the assessment, diagnosis, and prediction of the evolution of cerebrovascular diseases, focusing on CSVD
• Insights from population-based investigations on incidence, risk factors, and symptoms of subclinical cerebrovascular disease, disease trends, and mortality
• Investigations exploring the genetic patterns, cellular mechanisms, and molecular pathways leading to disease onset and progress in small cerebral vessels
• Research exploring the pathogenesis and risk factors, including complications of COVID-19 and the link between cardio- and cerebrovascular disease
• Current and future strategies for preventing or mitigating the consequences of micro- and macrovascular cerebral disorders as it related to CSVD
• Research relating to the relationship between CSVD and other cerebrovascular diseases, and the areas in which the intrinsic link between CSVD and LVD can aid in a better understanding of CSVD
Dr. Carole H. Sudre is a scientific advisor to BrainKey. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Substantial advances in unraveling the complexities of brain health have been achieved in recent years: the application of artificial intelligence, advancing MR neuroimaging techniques, evolving diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, to name just a few. These advancements have substantially shaped our understanding of the diagnosis of, and intervention against, cerebrovascular disorders as a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and significantly improved clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Cerebrovascular disorders are common and constitute a complex, multifactorial, and heterogeneous condition which may be divided into two subgroups: large-vessel disease, i.e., including the circle of Willis, and small-vessel disease (CSVD), affecting the small arteries and arterioles supplying the cortex as well as the white and deep grey matter. The most common conditions affecting cerebral large arteries include stroke subtypes with large-vessel occlusion, atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion, and aneurysmal rupture.
Cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD) refers to a group of pathological processes that affect the small arteries, arterioles, venules, and capillaries of the brain. CSVD can manifest as arteriolosclerosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, or lipohyalinosis, or as a combination, leading to ischemic as well as hemorrhagic complications. CSVD accounts for a quarter of all acute ischemic strokes and is a leading cause of non-traumatic spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Large- and small-vessel disease are intertwined, yet the underlying mechanisms of their linked pathogenesis are not fully understood. They are associated with well-established vascular risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterinemia, diabetes, tobacco use, and advanced age, with injuries in cerebral small and large vessels critically involved in vascular cognitive decline.
While surgical or endovascular treatment of large-vessel disease has seen significant advances, CSVD remains inaccessible to endovascular therapy, requiring medical therapy and lifestyle modification to mitigate risk factors. Despite important clinical accomplishments, continuing research is required to elucidate promising diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic options for the wide spectrum of cerebrovascular diseases.
In this Research Topic, we aim to deliver comprehensive insights into vascular diseases of the brain, with a particular focus on CSVD, to evaluate and summarize novel insights, current challenges, and the most recent advances in the field, and to highlight future perspectives. Furthermore, we aim to assess recent scientific and clinical progress in the development, validation, and application of AI toolkits and machine learning in the detection, clinical decision-making, and outcome prediction of cerebrovascular disease.
We welcome the submission of original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, narrative reviews, research or technical reports, and opinions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• The neuroradiological evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of cerebrovascular diseases, particularly CSVD
• Advances in MR imaging of cerebrovascular diseases which are applicable to CSVD
• The application of AI and machine learning in the assessment, diagnosis, and prediction of the evolution of cerebrovascular diseases, focusing on CSVD
• Insights from population-based investigations on incidence, risk factors, and symptoms of subclinical cerebrovascular disease, disease trends, and mortality
• Investigations exploring the genetic patterns, cellular mechanisms, and molecular pathways leading to disease onset and progress in small cerebral vessels
• Research exploring the pathogenesis and risk factors, including complications of COVID-19 and the link between cardio- and cerebrovascular disease
• Current and future strategies for preventing or mitigating the consequences of micro- and macrovascular cerebral disorders as it related to CSVD
• Research relating to the relationship between CSVD and other cerebrovascular diseases, and the areas in which the intrinsic link between CSVD and LVD can aid in a better understanding of CSVD
Dr. Carole H. Sudre is a scientific advisor to BrainKey. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.