“`html
Breaking News: New Research Highlights Brain Network Disruptions in Vascular cognitive Impairment, paving Way for Targeted Therapies – A surge of recent studies, including work from researchers at institutions like Peking University and the University of California, San Francisco, is revealing increasingly detailed insights into the neurological underpinnings of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). These findings, published in journals such as Neuroimage Clinical and Neuroradiology, pinpoint specific alterations in brain structure and function linked to cognitive decline, offering potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and targets for intervention.
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), encompassing vascular dementia and other cognitive deficits stemming from cerebrovascular disease, represents the second most common cause of dementia globally, affecting an estimated 30 million individuals worldwide. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which primarily targets specific brain regions, VCI arises from damage to small blood vessels within the brain, leading to reduced blood flow and subsequent neuronal dysfunction.This damage can manifest in a variety of cognitive impairments, including difficulties with executive function, memory, and processing speed.
Recent investigations utilizing advanced neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), are illuminating the complex network changes associated with VCI. A 2022 study led by Ma et al. in Neuroimage Clinical (103245, doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103245) demonstrated frequency-dependent alterations in white matter functional networks correlated with cognitive deficits. This suggests that the brain’s ability to efficiently transmit details is compromised in VCI, and that these disruptions vary depending on the frequency of brain activity.
Further research, notably a 2025 study by Wang et al. in Neuroradiology (833-844, doi:10.1007/s00234-025-03557-6), revealed concurrent structural and functional brain alterations in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. Specifically, the study identified correlations between changes in gray matter volume and disruptions in functional connectivity, highlighting the interplay between brain structure and function in the disease process. Mao et al. (Neuroradiology, 2025;3:1) corroborated these findings, demonstrating cortical structural degeneration alongside functional network connectivity changes in subcortical VCI patients.
The role of neurovascular coupling – the relationship between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow – is also under intense scrutiny. Liu et al. (Front Aging Neurosci, 2021;13:598365, doi:10.3389/fnagi.2021.598365) found altered neurovascular coupling in subcortical ischemic vascular disease, indicating a breakdown in the brain’s ability to regulate blood flow in response to neuronal demands. Song et al.(Neuroradiology, 2023;65(5):923-931, doi:10.1007/s00234-023-03135-8) expanded on this, detailing altered static and dynamic indices of intrinsic brain activity using resting-state fMRI.
Understanding the fundamental pathobiology of VCI, as outlined by Iadecola (Neuron, 2013;80(4):844-866, doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.008), is crucial for developing effective treatments.Current research is also exploring novel therapeutic approaches, such as acupuncture, with a randomized controlled trial led by Liu et al. (BMC Complement Med Ther, 2024;24(1):357, doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04657-1) utilizing fMRI and DTI to assess its efficacy in post-stroke dysphagia.
Furthermore, advancements in deep learning are enabling more precise brain hemodynamic mapping using resting-state fMRI, as demonstrated by Hou et al. (NPJ Digit Med, 2023;6(1):116, doi
