Resistance, vulnerability and resilience: A review of the cognitive cerebellum in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract in brief

• The cerebellum shows a complex role in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, with some evidence suggesting it may resist certain pathological processes and generate factors that could slow disease progression, especially in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
• Despite its potential resistance, the cerebellum can also be vulnerable, especially in cases of traumatic injuries like TBI and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), where it shows early signs of damage and is linked to cognitive decline when affected by diseases such as AD.
• The presence of cerebellar pathology is strongly tied to cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms across various disorders; damage or early pathology in this region often correlates with worse disease outcomes and earlier onset, highlighting its critical role in brain function and disease progression.