Abstract
The mammalian brain receives the lion’s share of the body’s blood supply and is a highly vascularized organ. The vascular and nervous systems arise at two distinct time points of embryogenesis; however, their functions tend to overlap or complement each other in the growth promoting milieu of the embryonic Central Nervous System (CNS). The pre-existing idea that mental disorders are a direct result from defects solely in neuronal populations and networks is gradually changing. Several studies have implicated blood vessel pathologies and blood flow changes in mental health disorders. Our own studies provide new perspectives as to how intrinsic defects in periventricular endothelial cells, from the earliest developmental time points can lead to the origin of mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), anxiety, and depression, thereby establishing direct links. In this article, we provide an overview of how the endothelial cell compartment in the brain is now gaining attention in the context of mental health disorders.
Highlights
The most recent report by The Lancet Commission highlighted the global burden of mental health disorders revealing staggering numbers and a prediction for a rapid increase in the number of individuals with a mental health problem [1,2]
As the number of studies highlighting a potential correlation between blood vessel changes in mental health disorders begins to increase, and we know that there is a cross-talk between the developing vasculature and neuronal populations, it is important to question whether defects in the blood vessel system are a cause or an effect in the etiology of mental health disorders? Here we provide a concise overview of studies reporting defects in brain vascular beds that might have long term implications in the proper functioning and physiological activities of the brain
The present review aims to provide an overview of progressive research in understanding the contribution of blood vessel anomalies in mental illness
Summary
The most recent report by The Lancet Commission highlighted the global burden of mental health disorders revealing staggering numbers and a prediction for a rapid increase in the number of individuals with a mental health problem [1,2]. Mental health disorder can manifest as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), anxiety or depression Most of these illnesses affect multiple functions of the brain and are only partially responsive to therapeutic interventions or pharmacological treatments. The pathological processes involved in the emergence of the phenotype have mostly been ‘neurocentric’ This neurocentric focus implies that defects or malfunctioning in the biology of neurons includes but not limited to neurotransmitter system dysfunctions; primarily the Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)ergic, dopaminergic or glutamatergic systems, myelin, immune response, infectious reagents or idiopathic reasons [4,5]. None of these have accounted for the heterogeneous. 77 to 79 80 to 82 83 to 85 86 to 88 89 to 91 92 to 94 95 to 97 98 to 00 01 to 03 04 to 06 07 to 09 10 to 12 13 to 15 16 to 18
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