Brain development, a complex process, consisting of several phases, starting as early as two weeks after conception, and continuing through childhood till early adolescence, is crucial for the development of properly functioning body systems, behavioral traits, and neurocognitive abilities. Infancy and childhood are recognized as important periods for initial brain formation, however in later stages of life, such as childhood and adulthood, experiences, together with environmental exposures, can still influence brain physiology. The developing brain is particularly susceptible to epigenetic changes with many factors being proposed as modifiers by directly impacting DNA methylation as well as histone and chromatin modifications within genes implicated in development. These factors include: maternal stress and diet, exposure to pollutants, sleep quality, as well as dietary habits. Evidence indicates exposures to environmental threats can lead to inappropriate neurological, metabolic, and endocrine functioning often mediated by epigenetic mechanisms with symptoms manifesting themselves as early as childhood or in later stages of life. Therefore, the main aim of this review is to evaluate the current studies focused on negative environmental exposures and their consequences on the developing brain directed by epigenetic mechanisms.

Life is the highest form of adaptation to the environment which is based on energy metabolism. To maintain life, the neuromuscular system must constantly interact with the environment. The striatal muscles are the main energy consumer and their access to energy fuel is mainly limited by the brain’s needs. In the state of wakefulness, the brain must continuously process streams of sensory signals and respond to them with motor actions. At the same time, the brain to be efficient must memorize the sensory-movement relationships. Brain memory networking requires additional energy allocation, and due to limited systemic energy resources, the processes of memorization are completed during the sleep phase when the inactive muscular system allows allocating the energy fuel to the brain functions such as memory trace formation and the removal of the activity-dependent waste products. Both physiological processes can be completed during sleep only, and consequently, chronic sleep disorder leads to pathological changes in brain functioning and escalation of neurodegenerative processes. Consequently, sleep disorders become the main cause of dementia which is the prodrome of Alzheimer’s disease.

As the average lifespan has increased, memory disorders have become a more pressing public health concern. However, dementia in the elderly population is often neglected in light of other health priorities. Therefore, expanding the knowledge surrounding the pathology of dementia will allow more informed decision-making regarding treatment within elderly and older adult populations. An important emerging avenue in dementia research is understanding the vascular contributors to dementia. This review summarizes potential causes of vascular cognitive impairment like stroke, microinfarction, hypertension, atherosclerosis, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Also, this review address treatments that target these vascular impairments that also show promising results in reducing patient’s risk for and experience of dementia.