The inflammatory and immune mechanisms of vascular dementia, and possibility of vaccine therapy

The inflammatory and immune mechanisms of vascular dementia,
and possibility of vaccine therapy

Hideaki Wakita

Department of Vascular Dementia Research, National Institute for
Longevity Sciences, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of age-associated dementia. Vascular dementia is comprised of a number of heterogeneous pathological conditions. Since the subcortical ischemic form of vascular dementia is a common type of vascular dementia, and on of the major causes of cognitive decline in elderly people, increasing attention has been focused on subcortical vascular dementia. Clinical and experimental investigations have provided evidence that inflammatory and immune mechanisms participate in many facets of vascular dementia. Immunotherapy targeting inflammatory and immune mechanisms might offer novel approaches to the treatment of vascular dementia.

Address correspondence to Dr. Hideaki Wakita, Department of Vascular Dementia Research, National Institute for Longevity Sciences, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (36-3, Gengo, Moriokachou, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan)