Susceptibility to capillary plugging can predict brain region specific vessel loss with aging.

ABSTRACT: Vessel loss in the aging brain is commonly reported, yet important questions remain concerning whether there are regional vulnerabilities and what mechanisms could account for these regional differences, if they exist. Here we imaged and quantified vessel length, tortuosity and width in 15 brain regions in young adult and aged mice. Our data indicate that vessel loss was most pronounced in white matter followed by cortical, then subcortical grey matter regions, while some regions (visual cortex, amygdala, thalamus) showed no decline with aging. Regions supplied by the anterior cerebral artery were more vulnerable to loss than those supplied by middle or posterior cerebral arteries. Vessel width and tortuosity generally increased with age but neither reliably predicted regional vessel loss.

SUBMITTER: Schager B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7820682 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature