In particular, the expression of VSMC contractile genes such as Myh11, SM22α, α‐SMA, and CNN1 was downregulated in CCDC80−/− aortas, whereas the expression of VSMC synthetic genes such as Runx3, Thbs2, and Spp1 was upregulated (Figure 4C), thereby substantiating the crucial role of CCDC80 in VSMC phenotype switching in AD pathogenesis. This evidence concerns the gene RUNX3 and Alzheimer disease.