Cell-based therapy for patients with vascular dementia

The homeostasis of neuronal cells is maintained by the cerebral circulation and blood-brain barrier. Circulating bone marrow-derived immature cells, including CD34-positive (CD34+) cells, have been implicated in homeostasis of the cerebral microvasculature. Decreased levels of circulating CD34+ cells, associated with ageing and/or cardiovascular risk factors, correlate with poor clinical outcomes in patients with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Clinical trials with local transplantation of bone marrow-derived immature cells for patients with limb ischaemia, including Buerger's disease and arteriosclerosis obliterans, have been shown to improve impaired microcirculation. In the present review, current findings about the correlation between circulating immature cells and microcirculation are reviewed, and the possibility of novel cell-based therapy in patients with vascular dementia is discussed.