Core Insights - The research conducted by Professor Qin Chuan's team at Huazhong University of Science and Technology reveals the pathogenic mechanism by which atherosclerosis exacerbates white matter injury and cognitive dysfunction, providing new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of vascular cognitive impairment in atherosclerotic populations [1][4] Group 1: Research Findings - The study highlights the increasing prevalence of vascular dementia, which is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, particularly as the global population ages [1] - Atherosclerosis is linked to vascular dementia, but the underlying pathological mechanisms connecting atherosclerosis to white matter injury and cognitive dysfunction have not been clearly defined, posing significant challenges for prevention and treatment [1] - The research utilized various techniques, including public databases, atherosclerosis patient cohorts, single-cell sequencing, and multi-omics analysis, to discover the heterogeneity of circulating exosomes in atherosclerosis [1] Group 2: Mechanisms and Implications - The identified exosomes can transmit oxidative stress and metabolic defects to microglial cells in the central nervous system, thereby exacerbating ischemic white matter injury and cognitive dysfunction, revealing a novel pathophysiological mechanism [1] - The study provides potential targets for risk warning and comorbidity treatment in patients with atherosclerosis-related vascular cognitive impairment [4] - Assessing the levels of peripheral blood exosomal miR-101-3p in atherosclerosis patients may predict the progression of atherosclerotic plaques and the risk of vascular cognitive impairment [4] - Targeting Nrf2 with clinical drug interventions may offer a new therapeutic approach for treating atherosclerosis combined with vascular cognitive impairment [4]