# Understanding the role of the cerebral microvasculature in brain aging

> **NIH NIH R01** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2024 · $576,493

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Aging is one of the major risk factors for the development and progression of cerebrovascular, cardiovascular,
and neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to long-term disability and mortality in the elderly. Aging-
associated progressive structural and functional decline of vascular cells lead to vascular dysfunction such as
decreased cerebral blood flow. While the vasculature is one of the most important targets of aging, it is not
clear whether accumulating vascular pathologies or aging drives vascular dysfunction. The overall long-term
goal of this project is to elucidate aging, and brain hypoperfusion-associated temporal changes in the cerebral
vasculature. We will test the hypothesis that brain hypoperfusion exacerbates aging-associated compromised
blood-brain-barrier integrity facilitated by mitochondrial dysfunction. To test our overall hypothesis, we
proposed two specific aims. We will use young and old, male, and female mito-Dendra2 expressing and wild
type mice in the proposed studies. Bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) will be used to mimic
cerebral hypoperfusion. The therapeutic potential of vascular mitochondria will be tested using a mitochondria
targeted tetrapeptide. Two-photon microscopy will be used to determine how hypoperfusion exacerbates
aging-associated BBB dysfunction in vivo, to map the brain vasculature, and vascular mitochondrial dynamics
real time. Our studies will be complemented with immunofluorescence studies, discovery-based proteomics
approach, and Western blot. The proposed research will reveal how aging and cerebral hypoperfusion affect
endothelial mitochondria, and will elucidate mechanisms that might contribute to aging-related pathologies
such as Alzheimer’s disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10896457
- **Project number:** 5R01AG083567-02
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Ibolya Rutkai-Green
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $576,493
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10896457

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10896457, Understanding the role of the cerebral microvasculature in brain aging (5R01AG083567-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10896457. Licensed CC0.

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