A global study of a disease responsible for almost half of all dementias and a large proportion of stroke cases, jointly coordinated by Professor Joanna Wardlaw. About the Project Stroke and dementia are major global health issues, often linked to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). Despite its prevalence, the exact causes of SVD remain unclear due to the difficulty in visualising small brain vessels and the variety of clinical symptoms that complicate diagnosis. Recent brain imaging research has identified changes, such as the enlargement of fluid-filled perivascular spaces around blood vessels, which may play a role in SVD. Understanding what causes these spaces to enlarge, how fluid movement in the brain is affected, and the subsequent impact on brain health is crucial. The Fondation Leducq has funded an international network to explore the significance of perivascular spaces in SVD. This collaboration unites clinical and preclinical researchers from North America and Europe to address the unmet need for understanding SVD pathophysiology. Our team, comprised of leading experts in both experimental and clinical research, leverages advanced techniques and groundbreaking insights into cerebral microvascular structure and function. By combining their expertise, they aim to uncover the mechanisms behind perivascular space changes and their role in SVD, ultimately contributing to better brain health. Image Collaborators The University of Edinburgh (UK) University College London (UK) Prof Serge Charpak Laboratory INSERM (France) Prof Anne Joutel Laboratory INSERM (France) University of Toronto (Canada) - Yale University (USA) University of Southern California (USA) University of Copenhagen (Denmark) Funder Foundation Leducq Project website Read more about this multicentre collaboration on the project website. Perivascular Spaces in Small Vessel Diseases website This article was published on 2024-08-27
