Aliquot #91: How blood-brain barrier dysfunction fuels Alzheimer's disease
Aliquot #91: How blood-brain barrier dysfunction fuels Alzheimer's disease
The blood-brain barrier is a collection of membranes that separate the central nervous system from the circulatory system. It permits the passage of nutrients and other beneficial molecules from the bloodstream into the brain while excluding harmful ones. Genetic predisposition, altered glucose uptake in the brain, high blood pressure, and other factors can weaken the barrier's integrity, allowing endotoxins and inflammatory immune cells to infiltrate the brain and increasing a person's risk for dementia.
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The blood-brain barrier is a collection of membranes that separate the central nervous system from the circulatory system. It permits the passage of nutrients and other beneficial molecules from the bloodstream into the brain while excluding harmful ones. Genetic predisposition, altered glucose uptake in the brain, high blood pressure, and other factors can weaken the barrier's integrity, allowing endotoxins and inflammatory immune cells to infiltrate the brain and increasing a person's risk for dementia.
In this Aliquot, Dr. Axel Montagne and I discuss factors that weaken the blood-brain barrier.
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The impact of a compromised blood-brain barrier
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The Interplay of APOE4 and Cyclophilin A
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Why APOE4 compromises the blood-brain barrier
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Is there already a drug that might reduce the damage?
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Implications for the glymphatic system and toxin clearance
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How faulty glucose transport in the brain plays a role in Alzheimer's
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Why low omega-3 may impair glucose transporter function
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What's the role of hypertension in dementia?
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Lifestyle approaches to blood pressure and dementia
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