Cerebrovascular mechanisms driving behavioral dysfunction in progressive brain diseases

Various forms of inflammation, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), can impact neuroimmune communication between the brain and the periphery, and are associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Inflammation induces blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, which has also been implicated in outcome measurements associated with TBI and AD. Inflammation is recognized as an important risk factor for neurodegenerative disease, as persistent and prolonged shifts in neuroimmune signaling axes are being linked to neurodegeneration.Changes in the brain and neurovascular extracellular matrix (ECM) remain an understudied mechanism in the neurodegenerative process. Few studies have addressed mechanistic alterations in the brain and neurovascular ECM in either rodent models or human tissues. Innovative efforts are necessary to elucidate the underlying ECM-related mechanisms associated with different types of inflammation, including TBI.In addition, few studies have investigated sex differences in inflammation-induced changes in the brain and neurovascular ECM, raising a critical concern regarding the assumption that inflammatory-related mechanisms similarly affect neurodegeneration in males and females. Clinical studies report worsened outcomes in females compared to males under inflammatory conditions. Unfortunately, the impact of inflammation on the brain and neurovascular ECM in female subjects remains significantly understudied.Moreover, it is unknown whether structural and functional changes in the brain and neurovascular ECM increase the risk for age- or disease-related neurodegeneration. Discrepancies in outcomes between rodent models and human studies warrant particular attention.Overall, we need a clearer understanding of inflammatory-based mechanisms of early-stage neurodegeneration, bridging the knowledge gap between rodent models and human reports, and emphasizing cellular communication across the neuroimmune axes.Our Research Topic aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms altering the onset and progression of neurodegeneration. Here, we focus on shifts in the neuroimmune axes, ECM structure and function and the neurodegenerative processes. A better understanding of these mechanisms on neurocognitive performance and healthy aging could inform and help us to develop novel potential pharmacological interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.We welcome articles addressing:1. Neurovascular extracellular matrix structure and functional changes in neurodegenerative disease and inflammatory conditions.2. The various neuroimmune axes driving behavioral dysfunction related to neurodegenerative disease.3. Peripheral immune and microbiota-derived molecular influences on cerebrovascular biology and neurocognitive performance.4. Molecular mechanisms linking neurodegenerative disease-related pathology to brain inflammatory states and the extracellular matrix.5. Early molecular pathological changes preceding overt neurodegeneration and behavioral impairment.6. Age- and sex-specific differences in the structure and function of the brain extracellular matrix under inflammatory conditions. Topic editors: Aric Flint Logsdon, Cheryl Hawkes, Axel Montagne Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79819/cerebrovascular-mechanisms-driving-behavioral-dysfunction-in-progressive-brain-diseases