Vascular and Nonvascular Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Clin Geriatr Med. 2023 Feb;39(1):109-122. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.07.006. Epub 2022 Oct 18.

Abstract

Aging, familial gene mutations, and genetic, environmental, and modifiable lifestyle risk factors predispose individuals to cognitive impairment or dementia by influencing the efficacy of multiple, often interdependent cellular and molecular homeostatic pathways mediating neuronal, glial, and vascular integrity and, ultimately, cognitive status. This review summarizes data from foundational and recent breakthrough studies to highlight common and differential vascular and nonvascular pathogenic mechanisms underlying the progression of Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Neuroinflammation; Neurovascular coupling; Oxidative stress; Proteinopathy; Risk factor; Small vessel disease.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Alzheimer Disease* / etiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors