Abstract: Pericytes are classically defined as contractile cells within the central nervous system that regulate blood flow and permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This one-sided view is gradually changing, and pericytes are now considered versatile cells that can switch their function in response to different stimuli (Uemura et al., 2020). In addition to their role as gatekeepers of the BBB and maintaining homeostasis of the brain’s microenvironment through adjusting the vascular intraluminal diameter, pericytes are both sensors and initiators of inflammation, allowing communication between the cerebral parenchyma and the peripheral system (Dieriks et al., 2022). Pericytes can react quickly by releasing neurotrophins to promote neuroprotection or by secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can exacerbate brain and BBB damage (Dieriks et al., 2022). BBB disruption, blood vessel alterations, and cerebral blood flow abnormalities are commonly seen in neurodegenerative disorders with loss of pericyte coverage present in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (Uemura et al., 2020, Elabi et al., 2021).