Embedded Files
How does the way our blood naturally clots affect the health of the blood vessels around the body and in the brain? How does this relate to cognitive function in older life?
Components of this work were funded by the University of Reading and the British Heart Foundation
Purpose of the study
Purpose of the study
Previous research has shown that cardiovascular health conditions (like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes) are linked to brain health and cognitive function in older adults. There is some evidence that certain regions of the brain that are involved in memory may be particularly affected. However, we do not yet know exactly how blood vessel health can affect the brain. In particular, we don’t know whether overall cardiovascular health affects only the blood vessels in the brain, the brain cells, or the ability for blood vessels and brain cells to work together in a co-ordinated way.
This research study investigates these relationships. One of our goals is to see if there are substances in the blood that can help to identify and protect individuals at risk of developing brain health problems in later life.
Rossetti, G. M. K., Dunster, J. L., Sohail, A., Williams, B., Cox, K. M., Rawlings, S., Jewett, E., Benford, E., Lovegrove, J. A., Gibbins, J. M., & Christakou, A. (2025). Evidence for control of cerebral neurovascular function by circulating platelets in healthy older adults. The Journal of Physiology, 603(11), 3379–3404. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP288405
Platelets play a vital role in preventing haemorrhage through haemostasis, but complications arise when platelets become overly reactive, leading to pathophysiology such as atherothrombosis. Elevated haemostatic markers are linked to dementia and predict its onset in long-term studies. Despite epidemiological evidence, the mechanism linking haemostasis with early brain pathophysiology remains unclear. Here, we aimed to determine whether a mechanistic association exists between platelet function and cerebral neurovascular function in 52 healthy mid- to older-age adults. To do this, we combined, for the first time, magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral neurovascular function, peripheral vascular physiology and in vitro platelet assaying. We show an association between platelet reactivity and cerebral neurovascular function that is both independent of vascular reactivity and mechanistically specific: Distinct platelet signalling mechanisms (ADP, collagen-related peptide, thrombin receptor activator peptide 6) were associated with different physiological components of the haemodynamic response to neuronal (visual) stimulation (full-width half-maximum, time to peak, area under the curve), an association that was not mediated by peripheral vascular effects. This finding challenges the previous belief that systemic vascular health determines the vascular component of cerebral neurovascular function, highlighting a specific link between circulating platelets and the neurovascular unit. Because altered cerebral neurovascular function marks the initial stages of neurodegenerative pathophysiology, understanding this novel association is now imperative, with the potential to lead to a significant advancement in our comprehension of early dementia pathophysiology.
Contact the HAVEN study team to find out more, including ways in which you can get involved
Google Sites
Report abuse