Severe white matter astrocytopathy in <scp>CADASIL</scp>

Abstract

Our novel findings show astrocytes undergo autophagy-like cell death in CADASIL, with the anterior temporal pole being highly vulnerable. We propose astrocytes transform from normal appearing type A to hypertrophic type B and eventually to clasmatodendritic type C cells. These observations also suggest the gliovascular unit of the deep WM is severely impaired in CADASIL.