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Vascular basis for brain degeneration: faltering controls and risk factors for dementia
Kalaria RN.. Nutrition reviews, 2010-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The integrity of the vascular system is essential for the efficient functioning of the brain. Aging-related structural and functional disturbances in the macro- or microcirculation of the brain make it vulnerable to cognitive dysfunction, leading to brain degeneration and dementing illness. Several faltering controls, including impairment in autoregulation, neurovascular coupling, blood-brain barrier leakage, decreased cerebrospinal fluid, and reduced vascular tone, appear to be responsible for varying degrees of neurodegeneration in old age. There is ample evidence to indicate vascular risk factors are also linked to neurodegenerative processes preceding cognitive decline and dementia. The strongest risk factor for brain degeneration, whether it results from vascular or neurodegenerative mechanisms or both, is age. However, several modifiable risks such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and obesity enhance the rate of cognitive decline and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in particular. The ultimate accumulation of brain pathological lesions may be modified by genetic influences, such as the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and the environment. Lifestyle measures that maintain or improve cardiovascular health, including consumption of healthy diets, moderate use of alcohol, and implementation of regular physical exercise are important factors for brain protection.
Key findings
- The strongest risk factor for brain degeneration, whether it results from vascular or neurodegenerative mechanisms or both, is age.
Why it matters
This review describes how aging-related vascular disturbances and vascular risk factors are linked to brain degeneration and dementia risk. It notes that age is the strongest risk factor, and that modifiable risks such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and obesity may increase risk, but no treatment is tested.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Nutrition reviews) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Nutrition Reviews: journal h-index 234 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 291 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.2 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 27 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Raj N. Kalaria: h-index 102 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Newcastle University: institution h-index 932 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21091952) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00352.x
- PubMed: 21091952
- Original source →
- Free full text: Nutrition Reviews →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kalaria, R. N. (2010). Vascular basis for brain degeneration: faltering controls and risk factors for dementia. Nutrition reviews. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00352.x
Vancouver
Kalaria RN. Vascular basis for brain degeneration: faltering controls and risk factors for dementia. Nutrition reviews. 2010. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00352.x. PMID: 21091952.
BibTeX
@article{kalaria2010-21091952,
author = {Kalaria, R. N.},
title = {{Vascular basis for brain degeneration: faltering controls and risk factors for dementia}},
journal = {Nutrition reviews},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00352.x},
pmid = {21091952},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00352.x}
}
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