| abstract |
Methods for detecting or monitoring the status of asymptomatic cerebral ischemia (SBI) and cerebrovascular health. The assay reagents and methods described herein provide specific indicators of cerebral microvascular disease and allow clinicians to identify patients at risk for developing SBI. Methods of treating a subject having asymptomatic cerebral ischemia and / or metabolic syndrome include providing a subject with aspirin therapy, blood pressure therapy, weight management, and / or weight gain when two or more SBI marker levels are elevated. Applying a diet and exercise program. Described herein are molecules produced by brain endothelial cells exposed to chronic vascular risk factors including obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance. These stress molecules produced by brain endothelial cells are detectable in serum, serve as diagnostic indicators of brain-specific endothelial cell damage, and correlate with MRI indicators of asymptomatic stroke and impaired cognitive function. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1 |