Figure 1
From: Blood–brain-barriers in aging and in Alzheimer’s disease
Neurovascular unit composition, function and alterations in aging and in AD. (A) The BBB is formed by the tight junctions that connect the endothelial cells of the brain capillaries. These are surrounded by a basal lamina, pericytes and by astrocytes end-feets, and may as well interact directly or indirectly with neurons. (B) The endothelial cells of the BBB contain in the luminal and abluminal sides transporters and receptors. (C) Several alterations are observed at the endothelial cells of the BBB during aging and in AD.