Discussion on the Pathogenetic Evolution of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in the Elderly Based on the "Form-Function" Disharmony of Brain Collaterals
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.15.008
- VernacularTitle:基于脑络“体-用”失衡的老年脑小血管病病机演变规律
- Author:
Ying XU
1
;
Jinwen GE
2
Author Information
1. Hunan University of Chinese Medicine，Changsha，410208
2. Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
cerebral small vessel disease;
brain collaterals;
sweat pore;
geriatric disease
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(15):1623-1626
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Cerebral small vessel disease （CSVD） is a heterogeneous condition affecting small vessels in the brain and is closely associated with cognitive dysfunction， gait abnormalities， and emotional disorder in the elderly. Based on the collateral disease theory of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， a "form-function" pathogenesis framework for elderly CSVD is proposed from the perspective of their relationship. In this framework， the "form" refers to the morphological basis of the brain collaterals and sweat pore， while the "function" refers to the activities of qi-blood circulation， nourishment and regulation， as well as the body fluid transportation and distribution； the two are interdependent and jointly maintain the mental activities of the brain. Under this framework， the dynamic pathogenesis evolution patterns of CSVD， namely collateral fragility， collateral rigidity， collateral stagnation， and collateral damage， are systematically explained， revealing the potential mechanisms underlying the transformation of age-related physiological decline of brain collaterals into pathological impairment. This provides a theoretical foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of elderly CSVD with TCM.
