Researchers at Northwestern University have uncovered an early sign of declining vascular function and subsequent degeneration that can lead to senile dementia. The results of the study are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Experts used single-cell transcriptomics to study human and mouse brain blood vessels and found in aging mice a marked decrease in activation of the Notch3 signaling pathway, which is essential for cell development and response to cellular stressors.
Additional transcriptomic analysis and imaging of mouse and human blood vessels revealed that reduced Notch3 signaling alters calcium regulation and prevents proper blood vessel contraction, which contributes to multiple vascular abnormalities including dilatation, microaneurysms, and reduced blood flow to the brain. These abnormalities also interfere with the central nervous system’s clearance of waste products and excess extracellular fluid.
