An energy crisis for Alzheimer’s disease: is pericyte degeneration to blame?

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One possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is narrowing of small blood vessels (capillaries) within the brain, limiting blood flow and energy supply. Pericytes, a cell found only on capillaries, maintain blood flow throughout the brain. In AD, pericytes may die leading to an energy deficit and memory problems. We will test using human brains and animal models whether pericyte loss causes AD and how this is happening. Pericytes could provide a new therapy option for AD.