Stroke is a leading cause of dementia and presents challenges in understanding the neurovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment that follow. Research in this field is crucial, as it may improve our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia, forms of ADRD, are the second most common cause of dementia in older adults after Alzheimer's.
Recognizing post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and post-stroke dementia (PSD) as distinct events, separate from vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), is an important development. However, strokes trigger neurovascular changes that may lead to VCID, highlighting the need for further study.
Recurrent strokes are common, often due to difficulties in identifying their mechanisms, many being classified as embolic strokes of undetermined source. Ischemic strokes can precede cancer diagnoses, with cancer patients experiencing a stroke mortality rate twice that of the general population. Such strokes are linked to high neurological risks and recurrence rates.
We have identified a novel connection between stroke and cancer through circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs), which facilitate communication between cells and carry diverse cargo, including proteins and nucleic acids.
Our research shows that EVs from stroke-injured mice impair the repair ability of a human brain endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3) following injury, compared to EVs from controls. This indicates that EVs from stroke-injured mice may directly affect brain microvascular function. Our plan includes evaluating microvascular endpoints related to VCID and/or AD using this ex vivo assay. Additionally, we have demonstrated that D3 cells can uptake labeled EVs without affecting their viability.
Post-doctoral Fellowship - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 2014
PhD - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 2011
