Work

Atherosclerosis is associated with amyloid and tau pathology via blood–brain barrier dysfunction in the hippocampus of aged human brains

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Atherosclerosis, a chronic vascular condition characterized by lipid accumulation and arterial plaque formation, has emerged as a significant contributor to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigated the association between severe atherosclerosis and hippocampal changes in aged human brains, focusing on blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and its potential role in amyloid-beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (pTau) pathology. Using multiplex immunohistochemical staining of postmortem brain tissue, we demonstrated that atherosclerosis-associated vascular damage leads to endothelial and smooth muscle cell apoptosis, exacerbates cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and promotes perivascular tau accumulation. These findings highlight a potential association between vascular health and neurodegeneration, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets for mitigating AD progression.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324652

Authors: Zhongman Jin, Nian Liu, Hui Wei

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Alzheimer's disease research and treatments

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,382