USC Study Reveals One-Two Punch of Symptoms That Exacerbate Alzheimer's

A University of Southern California (USC) study in the Journal of Neuroscience determined that impaired blood flow in the brain correlates with the buildup of tau tangles in Alzheimer's disease pathology, reports EurekAlert . The implication is that therapies targeting vascular health in the brain — as well as amyloid plaques and tau tangles — may more effectively preserve memory and cognitive function than single-target treatments. "This study confirms that we should carefully consider vascular health and associated risk factors — like high blood pressure, smoking, and physical inactivity — in the course of Alzheimer's prevention," said USC Professor Judy Pa. The researchers examined magnetic resonance imaging and positron-emission tomography scans, along with cerebrospinal fluid, in two cohorts: cognitively normal individuals and those at various stages of dementia, including mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Subjects with a strong overlap between vascular dysfunction and tau pathology in key Alzheimer's brain regions, especially amyloid-positive individuals, had the worst cognitive symptoms. "We're now starting to fully appreciate the role of vascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease," said Arthur W. Toga with USC's Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute. "Controlling risk factors like smoking and high blood pressure are accessible lifestyle modifications that offer hope for those at risk."