Small Vessel Cerebrovascular Pathology is a Major Feature in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease or Age-Related Dementia

Abstract

Historically, cerebrovascular abnormalities were recognized as prominent in the pathology of age-related dementia. In more recent decades, however, research and funding for development of therapeutics has almost entirely been focused on ß-amyloid and tau deposits (as described by Alzheimer in pre-senile dementia), despite a lack of conclusive evidence of a causal relationship or efficacy of targeted treatment on cognitive decline or dementia. Here we present a brief history of the evidence for a dominant vascular component of Alzheimer’s Disease and highlight a potential target for slowing the functional progression of the disease.