The major clinical manifestations of vascular dementia (VaD) include cerebrovascular accidents and cognitive dysfunction

whole occurrence and development are closely related to the cerebral blood flow and neuron survival state. Studies have shown that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) signaling pathway widely exist in various cells. In brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC)

it can regulate the vasomotor function and cerebral blood flow through downstream endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway;in neurons

it can promote neuronal survival against neuronal apoptosis

which is one of the important parts in the occurrence and development of VaD. So far

some studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine

active ingredients and compounds can play the neuroprotective effect through the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In order to provide reference for further in-depth study in the future

it is necessary to make a review on the research progress in this filed.