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Neurodegeneration and the neurovascular unit

Nature Medicine volume 16, pages 1370–1371 (2010)Cite this article

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To the Editor:

An important concept that has not been sufficiently represented in research into neurodegenerative diseases1,2,3,4,5,6,7 is the role of the neurovascular unit. The neurovascular unit comprises neurons and non-neuronal cells such as vascular cells (endothelia, pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells) and glia (astrocytes, microglia and oligodendroglia), which could have major roles in disease pathogenesis. These non-neuronal cells form the anatomical, biochemical and immune blood-brain barriers (BBBs) of the CNS and maintain the chemical and cellular composition of the neuronal 'milieu', which is required for proper functioning of neuronal synapses and circuits and for remodeling, angiogenesis and neurogenesis.

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Figure 1: The vascular hypothesis of neurodegeneration.

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  1. Center for Neurodegenerative and Vascular Brain Disorders, Rochester, New York, USA

    Berislav V Zlokovic

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  1. Berislav V Zlokovic
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Correspondence to Berislav V Zlokovic.

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Zlokovic, B. Neurodegeneration and the neurovascular unit. Nat Med 16, 1370–1371 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1210-1370

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