Age related diseases of the brain (stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, age-related cognitive decline) represent major challenges for neuroscience research and for society.   Common features of each of these include damage to brain cells and abnormalities in the cerebral vasculature.   Our goal is to develop pertinent model systems in which the molecular mechanisms which damage brain cells can be defined.   These molecular mechanisms determine the effects of genetic and lifestyle factors on the ageing brain and provide targets for development of new therapeutic strategies