A Cerebrovascular Hypothesis of Neurodegeneration in mTBI.

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a major public health concern that has generated considerable scientific interest as a complex brain disorder that is associated with long-term neural consequences. This article reviews the literature on cerebrovascular dysfunction in chronic mTBI, with a focus on the long-term neural implications of such dysfunction. Evidence is presented from human neuroimaging studies to support cerebrovascular involvement in long-term mTBI pathology. In addition, a pathway between mTBI and neurodegeneration via cerebrovascular dysfunction is explored. Future work focused on identifying the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the neural consequences of mTBI will be important to guide therapeutic interventions and long-term care for patients with mTBI.