USC researchers uncover links between pericyte degeneration and white matter damage

A new paper by the team at USC provides evidence for the role of pericyte cells in small vessel disease and Alzheimers disease. 

This research shows that a loss of cells within the small blood vessel walls (pericytes) results in white matter damage. This process appears to involve fibrinogen accumulation - treating mice to reduce fibrinogen deposits reduced white matter damage.  

White matter damage is a feature of small vessel disease that is not well understood. These findings highlight the importance of perictyes in the pathogenesis of small vessel disease, shedding light on early brain changes and a potential therapeutic target. 

This research has been featured in Medical News Today and the USC campus news.

Access the Medical News Today article. 

Read about the research in HSC news

Read about the research on ALZFORUM

Access the Nature Medicine paper.