Capillary stalling in Alzheimer's disease

Overview

Reduced cerebral blood flow is associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology and cognitive decline. This project asks whether capillary stalling and leukocyte adhesion can explain reduced cortical perfusion, and whether related vascular changes affect cognition. The work identified leukocyte adhesion in brain capillaries as a mechanism contributing to reduced cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's disease mouse models, with related proceedings examining dietary exacerbation of capillary stalling, suggesting that capillary-level vascular mechanisms may be actionable contributors to perfusion deficits and cognitive impairment.