Histological and immunohistochemical aspects of cerebral vessels of the elderly.

: The central nervous system is considered the most complex morphological structure of the human body. Between nervous tissue and cerebral circulation is a very close relationship, so transient vascular meningocerebral disturbances cause changes in neuronal function clinically expressed as various neurological signs and symptoms, especially in the elderly. In this study, we examined from the histological and immunohistochemical point of view encephalon fragments collected from 24 patients aged between 46 and 85 years. All patients exhibited changes in meningocerebral vessels, ranging from atheromatous plaques to vascular rupture. Immunohistochemical techniques have shown changes in the vascular endothelium, smooth muscle fibers of arterial walls and blood-brain barrier disruption.