Excessive dietary salt can impair cerebral blood flow regulation, resulting in cognitive dysfunction in mice. A ‘gut–brain’ pathway is implicated that links expansion of TH17 lymphocytes in small intestine to elevated bloodstream interleukin-17, which impairs brain perfusion by decreasing nitric oxide production in brain vascular endothelium.
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Shaik, M.A., Hillman, E.M.C. Skip the salt: your brain might thank you. Nat Neurosci 21, 154–155 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0068-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0068-6
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