Did you know that tiny leaks in your brain’s blood vessels can lead to dementia and stroke? These leaks are caused by damage to the supporting structure of the vessels. They are kind of like faulty pipes in your house. But scientists at Cambridge University have grown miniaturized versions of these vessels in a lab. As such, they’re using them to find ways to plug the leaks and prevent these devastating conditions.
Imagine millions of tiny pipes delivering vital blood throughout your brain. That’s the job of small blood vessels. When these pipes get damaged and leaky, blood seeps out, harming brain tissue. This damage, called cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), is a major cause of both stroke and vascular dementia, affecting nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide. Dementia is a general term for a decline in thinking, memory, and reasoning skills that interferes with daily life. SVD disrupts the blood flow needed for healthy brain function, contributing to this decline.
Searching for clues in the fight against dementia
Until now, understanding SVD has been tricky. While some similarities exist, animal brains differ significantly from human brains. These differences are particularly pronounced in areas related to higher-order thinking and complex cognitive functions. This limits the usefulness of animal models in replicating the specific ways SVD disrupts blood flow in humans. That’s where the lab-grown blood vessels come in.
These mini-vessels are created from reprogrammed skin cells of patients with SVD. By studying these tiny replicas, scientists have discovered that the leaks are caused by damage to the scaffolding around the blood vessels. This scaffolding, called the extracellular matrix, is crucial for keeping the vessels strong and leak-proof. In SVD, the matrix breaks down, allowing blood to escape.
The culprit behind this breakdown? Molecules called metalloproteinases (MMPs). Normally, MMPs help keep the scaffolding healthy, but when there are too many, they wreak havoc, like overzealous apprentices with too many brooms!
The good news is that the scientists were able to stop the leaks by treating the lab-grown vessels with drugs that target MMPs. While these specific drugs have side effects and aren’t suitable for treatment, they prove that targeting MMPs is a promising approach. The scientists can now use their mini-vessels to test new drugs aimed at preventing these leaks and protecting our brains.
This research offers a glimmer of hope for millions struggling with the effects of SVD. By understanding the leaky pipes in the brain, we can develop treatments to keep blood flowing and our minds sharp. Read the full text here. Until next time, stay curious!
About the author…
Salutations, fellow enthusiasts! I’m Dumitrita, a history and board games aficionada with a fascination for butterflies. Oh, and whenever I feel sad I watch Quokka photos, 10/10 would recommend!