Age and cerebral circulation

Cerebral blood flow, and its control, vary as a function of age. This review focuses on the perinatal period and compares/contrasts this age period to that of the juvenile/adult. Additionally, this review describes mechanisms important in the control of the cerebral circulation as a function of age during physiologic and pathologic conditions. Two topics of pathophysiology are considered: cerebral hypoxia ischemia, often seen in perinates due to problems with delivery or respiratory management post delivery, and traumatic brain injury, described as the shaken impact syndrome, an example of child abuse. Clinically, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of the cerebral circulation in order to optimize mechanistically appropriate therapeutic modalities.