Cerebral microcirculation

Cerebral microcirculation constitutes the smallest blood vessels in the brain—including arterioles, capillaries, and venules—that enable exchange of gases, nutrients, metabolic waste, and signaling molecules between the blood and neural tissue[4][5][7]. These vessels are essential for maintaining the brain’s high metabolic demands and ensuring neuronal and glial viability. The integrity and dynamic regulation of the cerebral microcirculation underpins critical functions such as the blood-brain barrier, neurovascular coupling, and homeostatic control. Dysfunction in the cerebral microcirculation is implicated in a range of CNS diseases, including ischemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative processes, especially when endothelial or pericyte function is disturbed or blood flow becomes heterogeneous[4][6]. While not a specific molecular entity, the health of this vascular compartment is important both as a pathophysiological substrate and, in some contexts, as a system-level therapeutic target via modulation of the cells and molecular mediators residing within it.

Other names

brain microcirculationcerebral microvasculaturemicrovessels of the brainbrain capillary networkcerebral capillaries

not a single target; actions may include improving perfusion, reducing blood-brain barrier leakage, protecting endothelial function, or modulating specific vascular pathways