From dark horse to front-runner: vascular contributions to brain health : Proceedings of the 2022 annual workshop of the Albert research institute for white matter and cognition

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly clear that the cerebral microcirculation plays a central role in the development and progression of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). Despite recent advances in understanding the vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and decline, many gaps exist in our collective knowledge. The 2022 Annual Workshop of the Albert Research Institute for White Matter and Cognition brought together investigators in the fields of neurovascular function and health, blood-brain barrier integrity, neurodegeneration, cerebral microvascular function, brain imaging, integrative systems neuroscience, and clinicians to discuss exciting and novel findings on how the vasculature contributes to progression of dementia. During the Workshop, the participants shared their most novel findings on the subject and discussed the implications of their data in reference to advancement of our knowledge in the basic mechanisms underlying microvascular pathology in the brain, as well as possible areas for clinical intervention. Overall, this meeting successfully highlighted some of the excellent progress in elucidating vascular contributions to dementia, and identified areas where rigorous scientific investigation is needed.