The blood-brain barrier: a help and a hindrance.

ABSTRACT: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized vascular structure that protects the brain micro-environment from toxins and pathogens in the blood. At the same time, the BBB presents a significant challenge for drug development, as it restricts the entry of most therapeutics into the brain. In this review, we first examine recent findings on the molecular and cellular architecture of the BBB, emphasizing the diverse mechanisms that facilitate the transport and exchange of molecules between the blood and the brain. We discuss current knowledge on the heterogeneity of the BBB along the arteriovenous axis and across different brain regions. Then, we explore the molecular and functional changes in the BBB that occur during normal ageing, neurodegeneration and acute brain injuries, and how prol

SUBMITTER: Rust R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12233556 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature