The
walls of blood vessels in the brain have a special property
that prevents large molecules from moving out of the bloodstream
and into the brain. This property, called the blood-brain
barrier, serves to protect the brain by keeping potentially
harmful substances from entering the brain.
A breakdown in the blood-brain barrier commonly
occurs at the site of tumor growth. Acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS) has also been linked to a breakdown in the
blood-brain barrier.
by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain
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