Abstract: Cerebral small vessel disease is a condition caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion due to microvascular damage and is a major contributor to stroke and dementia. Traditionally, its diagnosis has relied primarily on neuroimaging findings. However, recent advances in the understanding of cerebral small vessel disease pathophysiology have opened new avenues for early detection and targeted therapeutic interventions. Notably, the identification and investigation of cerebral small vessel disease–related biomarkers have emerged as a promising strategy for early diagnosis. This review provides an overview of recent research on cerebral small vessel disease biomarkers, including plasma biomarkers, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and genetic markers. Finally, we discuss future directions and trends in the clinical validation of these biomarkers.

Key words: aging, biomarkers, cerebral small vessel disease, cerebrospinal fluid, endothelial dysfunction, genes, inflammatory biomarkers, neurovascular unit