Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability-adjusted, life-years worldwide. The risk of having a stroke increases with the age of 55 but it can occur at any age. Stroke ais an interruption to the supply of blood to the brain, with developing clinical signs of disruption of cerebral function leading to death with no apparent cause other than the vascular origin. Cerebral abnormalities in stroke, a particularly ischemic stroke, may lead to biochemical dysfunction in the brain, ultimately leading to VaD and AD. Recent research revealed that stroke can be controlled by modifiable risk factors, including diet, cardiovascular, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, depression, and traumatic brain injury. Animal models have been used to study modifiable factors of stroke, including atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Multiple approaches have been developed to develop biomarkers, including circulatory miRNAs, blood-based protein markers, coagulation and thrombosis biomarkers. Among these, circulatory miRNAs are reported to be promising peripheral biomarkers in stroke and stroke linked VaD and AD.
Although so much research has been done in ischemic stroke and it’s molecular and cellular links with VaD,; 1) we still do not have a complete understanding of causal factors of stroke and its molecular basis of pathogenesis,; and 2) and we still do not have a complete understanding of the genetic basis of ischemic stroke leading to vascular dementia and AD. Further research is needed to answer these important questions.