Genetic Factors in Vascular Dementia
Data from population-based studies using neuroimaging estimate that more than 11 million people experience so-called silent strokes in the U.S. annually. The extent of the impact of this silent disease on public health remains unclear, but it's likely that it contributes to cognitive dysfunction.
Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. The cognitive symptoms of vascular dementia are heterogeneous and most likely reflect the interaction of both environmental and genetic factors.
In this project, our research team is examining the brain tissue of individuals for gene expression and genetic variants that increase the risk of vascular dementia.