Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):338-349

doi:10.12290/xhyxzz.2024-0947

Research Progress on the Correlation Between Mitophagy and Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Yan LIU 1 ; Xingang DONG 2 ; Xiaoyuan WANG 3 ; Gege QI 3 ; Yiqin REN 3 ; Lianpeng ZHOU 3 ; Hui LI 3 ; Suqing ZHANG 3 ; Weifeng LI 3

Affiliations

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Keywords

vascular cognitive impairment; mitophagy; signaling pathways; treatment; research progress

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), caused by cerebrovascular dysfunction, severely impacts the quality of life in the elderly population, yet effective therapeutic approaches remain limited. Mitophagy, a selective mitochondrial quality-control mechanism, has emerged as a critical focus in neurological disease research. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitophagy modulates oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Key signaling pathways associated with mitophagy—including PINK1/Parkin, BNIP3/Nix, FUNDC1, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and AMPK—have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for VCI. This review summarizes the mechanistic roles of mitophagy in VCI pathogenesis and explores emerging therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, aiming to provide novel insights for clinical intervention and advance the development of effective treatments for VCI.