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

阿尔茨海默病（AD）的一个可能原因是大脑内的小血管（毛细血管）变窄，限制了血液流动和能量供应。周细胞，一种只存在于毛细血管上的细胞，维持整个大脑的血液流动。在老年痴呆症中，周细胞可能死亡，导致能量不足和记忆问题。我们将用人脑和动物模型测试周细胞丢失是否会导致AD，以及这是如何发生的。周细胞可能为阿尔茨海默病提供新的治疗选择。

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.