Sunderman, Clare L; Forero, Kathleen V; Alorjani, Qasim; Buqaileh, Raghad; Gallagher, Gillian M; Ventresca, Sestina M; Messer, William S; AbouAlaiwi, Wissam A
description
<p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide due to an aging population. AD is characterized as a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to atrophy of brain tissue, causing cognitive deficits. Amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are pathological hallmarks of AD, yet the cause is still highly debated. Many other cardiovascular diseases and vascular manifestations share the same symptoms as patients with AD. In this review, the current understanding of AD is summarized with a brief discussion on how primary cilia dysfunction and impaired nitric oxide (NO) signaling contribute to cardiovascular risk factors, vascular pathology, and cognitive decline in AD. Finally, we highlight primary cilia as a possible therapeutic target and any future directions for treating AD.</p>
