Regional Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Cognitive Performance in Healthy Aging

Abstract

Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) reflects the response of brain blood vessels to vasoactive stimuli, such as neural activity. The current research assessed age-related changes in regional CVR to 5% CO2 inhalation in younger (n = 30, range: 21-45 years) and older (n = 29, range: 55-75 years) adults, and the contribution of regional CVR to cognitive performance using blood-oxygen-level dependent contrast imaging (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3T field strength. CVR was measured by inducing hypercapnia using a block-design paradigm under physiological monitoring. Memory and attention were assessed with a comprehensive computerized aging battery. MRI data analysis was conducted using MATLAB® and SPM12. Memory and attention performance was positively associated with CVR in the temporal cortices. Temporal lobe CVR influenced memory performance independently of age, gender, and education level. When analyzing age groups separately, CVR in the hippocampus contributed significantly to memory score in the older group and was also related to subjective memory complaints. No associations between CVR and cognition were observed in younger adults. Vascular responsiveness in the brain has consequences for cognition in cognitively healthy people. These findings may inform other areas of research concerned with vaso-protective approaches for prevention or treatment of neurocognitive decline.

Enhanced fitness relates to reduced cerebrovascular reactivity and perfusion in a sample of very healthy older adults

“…Older adults were found to have a lower GMV volume as compared to young adults, similar to previous reports of age-related atrophy in GM [54][55][56] . Our findings of decreased CVR in older adults compared to young adults is also in line with previous research 32,33,39,57,58 , as are the findings of decreased resting CBF 32,33 . Some of these results are similar to previously published results by our team in this same group of subjects 32,42 .…”

Cerebral Vascular Reactivity in Frail Older Adults with Vascular Cognitive Impairment

“…Catchlove et al compared CVR between young and healthy older adults and its relationship with cognitive performance. The study reported that CVR in temporal regions of the brain decreases with age, a situation that could impact cognitive function directly, especially in attention and memory domains [25]. Another study by Shim et al reported a reduction in both mean CBF velocities and CVR, which have a negative impact on cognitive function [10].…”

“…The cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to vascular aging are complex. Endothelial dysfunction could be related to the process of oxidative stress, in which insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) deficiency and inflammation leads to a lower nitric oxide bioavailability [25]. Lipecz et al showed that neurovascular coupling, measured by diameter changes in the retinal arterioles’ response to light, was decreased in older patients when compared to the younger population [28].…”

Pulsed Arterial Spin Labeling (Pasl) in Receiving Perfusion and Functional Data: Technique Abilities

“…Результаты ее измерения разнятся для используемых методов исследования [25,35,48]. Ранее проводилась оценка ЦВР в отдельных зонах головного мозга, не связанных с активацией [11]. В данном исследовании при проведении пробы с гиперкапнической нагрузкой происходило увеличение CBF, что ассоциировалось с ростом коэффициента реактивности на 4% в референсной зоне и на 11-21% в зонах активации.…”