New research carried out by the University of Warwick Medical School and St George's Hospital Medical School, London, into a genetic brain condition that triggers strokes, migraine and dementia in younger people has identified a possible cause of the condition, and could mean a breakthrough in treatment for a disease for which no specific therapy is currently available, and help save lives.
The disease CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is a recently identified cause of stroke and vascular dementia. CADASIL is identified by finding mutations in a gene called Notch3, which influences how cells in blood vessels grow and develop.
The research reveals blood vessels in CADASIL patients over-react to the hormone Angiotensin II, part of an important hormonal system that regulates blood pressure. This is an important mechanism by which these gene abnormalities lead to poor blood supply in CADASIL patients.
Angiotensin II, which causes common cardiovascular disorders such as high blood pressure and heart failure, is also abnormal in CADASIL patients.
The study published in this month's edition of the international journal Stroke is the first to provide evidence that blood vessels elsewhere in the body, apart from the brain, in CADASIL sufferers are abnormal in over-constricting in response to the hormone Angiotensin II.
Until now, drugs that help cardiovascular conditions in general, such as aspirin, and tablets to lower blood pressure and cholesterol have been given to CADASIL sufferers. This research suggests that new treatments aimed specifically at blocking the Angiotensin II pathway should be administered.