Brain signal activations during the same acupuncture were different between the healthy and the stroke patients, and the effects showed a correlation of different acupuncture points.

Military performance depends on high level cognition specifically, executive function (EF) while simultaneously performing strenuous exercise. However, most studies examine cognitive performance following, not during, exercise. Therefore, our aim was to examine the relationship between EF and exercise intensity. Following familiarization, thirteen Reserve Officer Training Corp cadets (19.6 ± 2 yrs, 5 women) completed a graded exercise test (GxT) and two EF exercise tests (EFET) separated by ≥ 24hrs. EFET was a combined iPad-based EF test (Cedar Operator Workload Assessment Tool) and GxT. Heart rate (HR) and Prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation (Near infrared spectroscopy, NIRS) were continuously recorded. The EF score was analyzed for accuracy of responses (%Hit Rate). Heart Rate Reserve was calculated to normalize exercise intensity (%HRR). PFC oxygenation utilized NIRS variables to calculate Tissue Saturation Index (%TSI). Data from EFET trials were averaged into a singular response. % Hit Rate declined at HRRs ≥ 80%, reaching nadir at 100% HRR (74.09 ± 10.63 %, p < 0.01). TSI followed a similar pattern, declining at ≥ 70% HRR and at a greater rate during EFET compared to GxT (p < 0.01), reaching a nadir in both conditions at 100% HRR (60.39 ± 2.94 vs. 63.13 ± 3.16 %, p < 0.01). Therefore, EF decline is dependent on exercise intensity, as is % TSI. These data suggest reductions in EF during high intensity exercise are at least in part related to attenuated PFC oxygenation. Thus, interventions that improve PFC oxygenation may improve combined exercise and EF performance.

Although systemic sex‐specific differences in cardiovascular responses to exercise are well established, the comparison of sex‐specific cerebrovascular responses to exercise has gone under‐investigated especially, during high intensity exercise. Therefore, our purpose was to compare cerebrovascular responses in males and females throughout a graded exercise test (GXT). Twenty‐six participants (13 Females and 13 Males, 24 ± 4 yrs.) completed a GXT on a recumbent cycle ergometer consisting of 3‐min stages. Each sex completed 50W, 75W, 100W stages. Thereafter, power output increased 30W/stage for females and 40W/stage for males until participants were unable to maintain 60‐80 RPM. The final stage completed by the participant was considered maximum workload( W max ). Respiratory gases (End‐tidal CO 2 , EtCO 2 ), middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv), heart rate (HR), non‐invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), and stroke volume (SV) were continuously recorded on a breath‐by‐breath or beat‐by‐beat basis. Cerebral perfusion pressure, CPP = MAP (0. 7,355 distance from heart‐level to doppler probe) and cerebral vascular conductance index, CVCi = MCAv/CPP 100mmHg were calculated. The change from baseline (Δ) in MCAv was similar between the sexes during the GXT ( p = .091, ω p 2 = 0.05). However, ΔCPP ( p < .001, ω p 2 = 0.25) was greater in males at intensities ≥ 80% W max and ΔCVCi ( p = .005, ω p 2 = 0.15) was greater in females at 100% W max . Δ End‐tidal CO 2 (ΔEtCO 2 ) was not different between the sexes during exercise ( p = .606, ω p 2 = −0.03). These data suggest there are sex‐specific differences in cerebrovascular control, and these differences may only be identifiable at high and severe intensity exercise.

With age, cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., dementia and Alzheimer’s) are some of the leading causes of death in the United States. Related to these outcomes is the increased prevalence of hypertension, which independently increases the development of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. While a direct mechanistic link between hypertension and poor brain health is unknown, many hypothesize that the etiology stems from poor blood pressure (BP) and cerebrovascular regulation. This dysfunction fosters hypoperfusion of the brain, causing stress to the tissue through a nutrient mismatch, subtly damaging the brain over many years. Current Western medical treatment relies on pharmacological treatment (mainly beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or a combination of the two). However, Western treatments have not been successful in mitigating brain health outcomes and are burdened with unwanted side effects and non-adherence issues. Alternatively, traditional East Asia medicine has used acupuncture as a treatment for hypertension and may offer a promising approach in response to the limitations of conventional therapy. While detailed clinical and mechanistic experimental evidence is lacking, acupuncture has been observed to reduce BP and improve endothelial function in hypertensive adults. Further, acupuncture has been shown to have specific cerebrovascular effects, increasing cerebrovascular reactivity in healthy adults, highlighting possible neuroprotective properties. Therefore, our review is aimed at evaluating acupuncture as a treatment for hypertension and the potential impact on brain health. We will interrogate the current literature as well as discuss the proposed neural and vascular mechanisms by which acupuncture acts.

Background Dysfunctional cerebrovascular control is closely linked to the increased incidence of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. small vessel occlusion, dementia and Alzheimer’s). Epidemiological evidence identifies sex‐specific differences in the course of prevention (risk factor) and treatment (prognosis) of cerebrovascular and brain diseases. Therefore, examining sex differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation is essential. Exercise provides a unique metabolic environment which influences systemic and CBF responses. Despite previous studies identifying muscle blood flow sex discrepancies to both handgrip and knee extensor exercise, CBF responses during exercise in women are underrepresented in the literature. Therefore, it remains unclear if sex differences in cerebrovascular control to exercise exists. Purpose To compare CBF and cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi) over a range of exercise intensities between men (MN) and women (WN). Methods 24 young healthy adults (12 WN, 24.0±3.6 yrs) completed a graded‐exercise‐test (GXT, stage length 3‐min, 50W, 75W, 100W; after which MN increases by 40W, WN increased by 30W maintaining 60–80 RPM) on a recumbent cycle ergometer to volitional exhaustion. The highest completed stage was determined as Maximal Wattage (Wmax). Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv; transcranial Doppler ultrasound) and mean arterial pressure (MAP; finger photoplethysmography, CPP was calculated MAP – [0.7355* vertical distance of TCD probe from heart‐level]), were measured on a beat‐by‐beat basis to calculate CVCi = MCAv/CPP*100mmHg. Results Mean ± SD, effect size using Ω2. MN and WN exhibited similar MCAv responses to changes in exercise intensity where peak MCAv was obtained ~ 60% Wmax (ΔMCAv, WN = 17.9 ± 3.6, MN = 16.0 ±7.01 cm/s, p = 0.4) and declined as intensity increased. There was a trend for WN to have a greater ΔMCAv with increasing relative exercise intensity (p = 0.05, Ω2 = 0.02) with the greatest difference between WN and MN observed at 100%Wmax (ΔMCAv, WN= 10.7±2.2, MN= 5.5± 1.3cm/s, p<0.01). Interestingly, MN had a greater exercise cerebral prefusion pressor response with increasing exercise intensity (p < 0.01, Ω2 = 0.05) with the largest difference being observed at 100% Wmax (ΔCPP, WN 37.7 ± 3.0, MN 47.3 ± 5.6 mmHg, p < 0.01). However, these differences did not compute into differences in ΔCVCi between the sexes over any exercise intensity (p = 0.8, Ω2 = 0.0). Conclusions Our data suggest cerebrovascular responses to exercise are similar between sexes. However, the small effect sizes in MCAv and differences in ΔCPP indicate the study may be underpowered to detect differences in cerebrovascular control during high intensity exercise. Therefore, we conclude men and women have similar cerebrovascular responses during low to moderate exercise. However, further research into cerebrovascular and exercise pressor responses during high intensity exercise are warranted as our data remain inconclusive and literature has identified exercise sex difference...