Imaging Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Brain Disorders

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, the clearance of toxic metabolites, and protection of the central nervous system (CNS) from infection. Compromised or impaired BBB function is implicated in a number of serious brain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Emerging medical imaging technologies, in particular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have allowed in vivo imaging of natural variation of BBB function with aging and during sleep, as well as BBB dysfunction in a range of brain disorders with high socioeconomic impact. Imaging Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Brain Disorders introduces the structure and function of the BBB, its role in the pathogenesis of brain disorders, and state-of-the-art medical imaging technologies for imaging BBB function in both the healthy and diseased brain. With this book the reader will learn: The structure and function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB); The role of BBB in maintaining normal brain function (e.g. aging and sleep); The type of BBB aberrations in brain disorders - stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral small vessel disease, Alzheimer's disease, and sleep apnea; Modern medical imaging technologies (e.g. MRI) for in vivo imaging of BBB function in both the healthy and diseased brain; How imaging of BBB can help monitor and cure brain disorders; The potential of BBB imaging in early detection of neurological disorders, facilitating timely and effective treatment strategies.