TEAM: Erik Bakker, Gustav Strijkers, Bram Coolen
Several types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, are associated with vascular problems. Aging, and risk factors such as high blood pressure contribute to impaired vascular function. This involves stiffening of the arteries, poor regulation of blood flow, and reduced clearance of waste products. Aging is also associated with accumulation of a protein fragment, called medin, in the blood vessel wall. In this project we will investigate whether medin plays a key role in the vascular contribution to dementia.