The Brain and Spinal Microvasculature in Normal Aging.

Changes in the brain and spinal cord microvasculature during normal aging contribute to the "sensitive" nature of aged central nervous system (CNS) tissue to ischemic insults. In this review we will examine alterations in the CNS microvasculature during normal aging, which we define as aging without a dominant pathology such as neurodegenerative processes, vascular injury or disease, or trauma. We will also discuss newer technologies to improve the study of CNS microvascular structure and function. Microvasculature within the brain and spinal cord will be discussed separately as anatomy and physiology differ between these compartments. Lastly, we will identify critical areas for future studies as well as key unanswered questions.