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Csiszar A, Ungvari A, Patai R, Gulej R, Yabluchanskiy A, Benyo Z, Kovacs I, Sotonyi P, Kirkpartrick AC, Prodan CI, Liotta EM, Zhang XA, Toth P, Tarantini S, Sorond FA, Ungvari Z. Atherosclerotic burden and cerebral small vessel disease: exploring the link through microvascular aging and cerebral microhemorrhages. GeroScience 2024; 46:5103-5132. [PMID: 38639833 PMCID: PMC11336042 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01139-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebral microhemorrhages (CMHs, also known as cerebral microbleeds) are a critical but frequently underestimated aspect of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), bearing substantial clinical consequences. Detectable through sensitive neuroimaging techniques, CMHs reveal an extensive pathological landscape. They are prevalent in the aging population, with multiple CMHs often being observed in a given individual. CMHs are closely associated with accelerated cognitive decline and are increasingly recognized as key contributors to the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review paper delves into the hypothesis that atherosclerosis, a prevalent age-related large vessel disease, extends its pathological influence into the cerebral microcirculation, thereby contributing to the development and progression of CSVD, with a specific focus on CMHs. We explore the concept of vascular aging as a continuum, bridging macrovascular pathologies like atherosclerosis with microvascular abnormalities characteristic of CSVD. We posit that the same risk factors precipitating accelerated aging in large vessels (i.e., atherogenesis), primarily through oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, similarly instigate accelerated microvascular aging. Accelerated microvascular aging leads to increased microvascular fragility, which in turn predisposes to the formation of CMHs. The presence of hypertension and amyloid pathology further intensifies this process. We comprehensively overview the current body of evidence supporting this interconnected vascular hypothesis. Our review includes an examination of epidemiological data, which provides insights into the prevalence and impact of CMHs in the context of atherosclerosis and CSVD. Furthermore, we explore the shared mechanisms between large vessel aging, atherogenesis, microvascular aging, and CSVD, particularly focusing on how these intertwined processes contribute to the genesis of CMHs. By highlighting the role of vascular aging in the pathophysiology of CMHs, this review seeks to enhance the understanding of CSVD and its links to systemic vascular disorders. Our aim is to provide insights that could inform future therapeutic approaches and research directions in the realm of neurovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Csiszar
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Anna Ungvari
- Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Roland Patai
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Rafal Gulej
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Andriy Yabluchanskiy
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral College/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Benyo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary
- Cerebrovascular and Neurocognitive Disorders Research Group, HUN-REN, Semmelweis University, 1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Illes Kovacs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Peter Sotonyi
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, 1122, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Angelia C Kirkpartrick
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Calin I Prodan
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Eric M Liotta
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral College/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke and Neurocritical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Xin A Zhang
- Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Peter Toth
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- Neurotrauma Research Group, Szentagothai Research Centre, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
- ELKH-PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Stefano Tarantini
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral College/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Farzaneh A Sorond
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke and Neurocritical Care, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- International Training Program in Geroscience, Doctoral College/Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Wang L, Shah S, Llaneras CN, Goldhardt R. Insight into the Brain: Application of the Retinal Microvasculature as a Biomarker for Cerebrovascular Diseases through Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. CURRENT OPHTHALMOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 12:1-11. [PMID: 39310044 PMCID: PMC11415260 DOI: 10.1007/s40135-023-00320-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of review The present article serves as a comprehensive review of the published research literature surrounding the retinal microvasculature, characterized through the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and its potential clinical value for understanding and detecting cerebrovascular diseases. Recent findings Studies from the past 3 years (2020-2023) have identified a degeneration of the retinal microvasculature, commonly defined through the loss of vascular density, in ischemic stroke, dementia, carotid artery stenosis, cerebral small vessel disease, and a series of rare, potentially inherited cerebrovascular disorders. These retinal microvascular changes often correlate with structure and functional changes in the brain and sometimes occur prior to debilitating neurodegeneration. Summary While further investigations with longitudinal data and larger sample sizes are necessary, OCTA shows promising results for characterizing the retinal microvasculature as a potential imaging biomarker in reflecting the changes in the cerebral microvasculature for early detection, prevention, and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Serena Shah
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Raquel Goldhardt
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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Kellner RL, Harris A, Ciulla L, Guidoboni G, Verticchio Vercellin A, Oddone F, Carnevale C, Zaid M, Antman G, Kuvin JT, Siesky B. The Eye as the Window to the Heart: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Biomarkers as Indicators of Cardiovascular Disease. J Clin Med 2024; 13:829. [PMID: 38337522 PMCID: PMC10856197 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13030829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Alterations in microvasculature represent some of the earliest pathological processes across a wide variety of human diseases. In many organs, however, inaccessibility and difficulty in directly imaging tissues prevent the assessment of microvascular changes, thereby significantly limiting their translation into improved patient care. The eye provides a unique solution by allowing for the non-invasive and direct visualization and quantification of many aspects of the human microvasculature, including biomarkers for structure, function, hemodynamics, and metabolism. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) studies have specifically identified reduced capillary densities at the level of the retina in several eye diseases including glaucoma. This narrative review examines the published data related to OCTA-assessed microvasculature biomarkers and major systemic cardiovascular disease. While loss of capillaries is being established in various ocular disease, pilot data suggest that changes in the retinal microvasculature, especially within the macula, may also reflect small vessel damage occurring in other organs resulting from cardiovascular disease. Current evidence suggests retinal microvascular biomarkers as potential indicators of major systemic cardiovascular diseases, including systemic arterial hypertension, atherosclerotic disease, and congestive heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Kellner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.L.K.); (A.H.); (A.V.V.); (G.A.)
| | - Alon Harris
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.L.K.); (A.H.); (A.V.V.); (G.A.)
| | - Lauren Ciulla
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA;
| | - Giovanna Guidoboni
- Maine College of Engineering and Computing, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA;
| | - Alice Verticchio Vercellin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.L.K.); (A.H.); (A.V.V.); (G.A.)
| | - Francesco Oddone
- Glaucoma Unit, IRCCS—Fondazione Bietti, 00198 Rome, Italy; (F.O.); (C.C.)
| | - Carmela Carnevale
- Glaucoma Unit, IRCCS—Fondazione Bietti, 00198 Rome, Italy; (F.O.); (C.C.)
| | - Mohamed Zaid
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA;
| | - Gal Antman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.L.K.); (A.H.); (A.V.V.); (G.A.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva 4941492, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Jeffrey T. Kuvin
- Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY 11549, USA;
| | - Brent Siesky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.L.K.); (A.H.); (A.V.V.); (G.A.)
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Zhang Z, Kwapong WR, Cao L, Feng Z, Wu B, Liu J, Zhang S. APOE ε4 Gene Carriers Demonstrate Reduced Retinal Capillary Densities in Asymptomatic Older Adults. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5649. [PMID: 37685715 PMCID: PMC10488535 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Early identification of Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-related microvascular pathology will help to study the microangiopathic contribution to Alzheimer's disease and provide a therapeutic target for early intervention. To evaluate the differences in retinal microvasculature parameters between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers, asymptomatic older adults aged ≥ 55 years underwent APOE ε4 genotype analysis, neuropsychological examination, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging. One hundred sixty-three older adults were included in the data analysis. Participants were also defined as cognitively impaired (CI) and non-cognitively impaired (NCI) according to their MoCA scores and educational years. APOE ε4 carriers demonstrated reduced SVC (p = 0.023) compared to APOE ε4 non-carriers. Compared to NCI, CI participants showed reduced SVC density (p = 0.006). In the NCI group, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the microvascular densities between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. In the CI group, APOE ε4 carriers displayed reduced microvascular densities compared to non-carriers (SVC, p = 0.006; DVC, p = 0.048). We showed that CI and APOE ε4 affect retinal microvasculature in older adults. Quantitative measures of the retinal microvasculature could serve as surrogates for brain microcirculation, providing an opportunity to study microvascular contributions to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shuting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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