Hacker News Reader

"vascular disorders" As in lack of blood to the brain? Wouldn't high blood pressure do the opposite, or is their something I am missing.

View on HN

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20007/types_of_dementia/5...

Narrowing of the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the brain, caused by things like high blood pressure.

Also, strokes and mini-strokes.

Thanks, that was just what I was looking for.

A new research avenue being explored in the etiology of dementia is altered permeability in the blood brain barrier (BBB) too. High blood pressure [0], and some other maladies listed in the study, are linked to changes in the BBB. This may be important, as some new research shows that some dementia may be immunological in nature.

This is all pretty new science though. Back when I went to school in the early 2000s instructors didn't even teach that the BBB permeability could change.

[0]: https://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=...

Think of it this way: High BP can lead to strokes and general damage to the vascular system, and that in turn can lead to dementia.

http://www.webmd.com/stroke/guide/vascular-dementia#1

Reply on news.ycombinator.com