VEGF, abundantly expressed in the CNS, has roles in modulation of angiogenesis, vascular remodelling, repair, permeability and inflammation,35 and is involved in microglial chemotaxis perhaps reflecting an early response to amyloid deposition.36 Our finding of increased atrophy with lower levels of CSF VEGF is consistent with VEGF having a protective role in AD, and in keeping with reports that transgenic AD mice with increased neuronal expression of VEGF have a functional improvement in memory,35 suggests that upregulation of VEGF may be a useful therapeutic strategy for AD. Here, VEGFA is linked to Alzheimer disease.