High levels of autophagy-related molecules such as Beclin-1, upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3 (CC-3), Drp1, and Bax, as well as the downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 in the brain are associated with the decline of learning and memory function in a rat model of iron overloaded vascular dementia [125]. Here, CASP3 is linked to vascular dementia.