Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Spontaneous obstruction of brain capillaries is common in the healthy mouse and occurs at a higher rate in disease states. Moreover, in approximately a third of lasting obstructions, the capillary is pruned from the vascular network, leading to a significant loss of capillaries over the life span. We think this loss of capillary density in the brain leads to cognitive impairments and contributes to vascular dementias. Neurons communicate with capillaries to change blood flow when they are active. As such, we hypothesize that neural activity helps to clear these obstructions. In this project, we will first test the ability of spontaneous obstructions to produce behavioural deficits. Then, we will evaluate the role of neural activity in clearing obstructions and preventing these behavioural deficits. If we are correct, we will provide a mechanism to explain how exercise and engagement can lead to a healthier aging brain. Moreover, we expect to discover clinical targets to help treat diseases in which capillaries are regularly obstructed, such as vascular dementia, sickle cell disease, and polycythemia.