Disorders of the nervous and vascular systems continue to burden the planet's population not only with increasing morbidity and mortality, but also with a significant financial drain through increasing medical care costs coupled to a progressive loss in economic productivity. For example, more than 500 million individuals suffer from nervous and vascular system disorders in the world that comprise both acute and chronic degenerative diseases such as hypertension, cardiac insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's disease. Given the vulnerability of the nervous and vascular systems, identifying the cellular pathways that determine cellular function, injury, and longevity may significantly assist in the development of therapeutic strategies to either prevent or at least reduce disability from crippling degenerative disorders. With this objective, Neurovascular Medicine: Pursuing Cellular Longevity for Healthy Aging is intended to offer unique insights into the cellular and molecular pathways that can govern neuronal, vascular, and inflammatory cell function and provide a platform for investigative perspectives that employ novel "bench to bedside" strategies from internationally recognized scientific leaders. In light of the significant and multifaceted role neuronal, vascular, and inflammatory cells play during degenerative disorders, novel studies that elucidate the role of these cells may greatly further our understanding of disease mechanisms for the development of targeted treatments for a wide spectrum of diseases. The authors of this monograph strive to lay the course for the continued progression of innovative investigations and especially those that examine previously unexplored pathways of cell biology with new avenues of study for the maintenance of healthy aging and extended cellular longevity. Kenneth Maiese, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University
