Effects of 1‐year Aerobic Exercise Training on Cerebral Blood Flow and Arterial Siffness in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: Central arterial stiffness and brain hypoperfusion are emerging risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aerobic exercise training (AET) may improve central arterial stiffness and brain perfusion. Objective: To investigate the effects of AET on central arterial stiffness and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of AD. Methods: This is a proof-of-concept, randomized controlled trial that assigned 70 amnestic MCI patients into a 12-month program of moderate-to-vigorous AET or stretching-and-toning (SAT) intervention. Carotid β-stiffness index and CBF were measured by color-coded duplex ultrasonography and applanation tonometry. Total CBF was measured as the sum of CBF from both the internal carotid and vertebral arteries, and divided by total brain tissue mass assessed with MRI to obtain normalized CBF (nCBF). Episodic memory and executive function were assessed using standard neuropsychological tests (CVLT-II and D-KEFS). Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness were measured by peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Results: Total 48 patients (29 in SAT and 19 in AET) were completed one-year training. AET improved VO2peak, decreased carotid β-stiffness index and CBF pulsatility, and increased nCBF. Changes in VO2peak were associated positively with changes in nCBF (r = 0.388, p = 0.034) and negatively with carotid β-stiffness index (r = –0.418, p = 0.007) and CBF pulsatility (r = –0.400, p = 0.014). Decreases in carotid β-stiffness were associated with increases in cerebral perfusion (r = –0.494, p = 0.003). AET effects on cognitive performance were minimal compared with SAT. Conclusion: AET reduced central arterial stiffness and increased CBF which may precede its effects on neurocognitive function in patients with MCI.

Download Full-text

Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Executive Function: A Randomized, Controlled Cross-Over Trial in Sedentary Older Men

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2019.00333 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jordi P. D. Kleinloog ◽

Ronald P. Mensink ◽

Dimo Ivanov ◽

Jos J. Adam ◽

Kamil Uludağ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Executive Function ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Older Men ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training ◽

Randomized Controlled

Download Full-text

Aerobic exercise training increases cerebral blood flow in postmenopausal women

Artery Research ◽

10.1016/j.artres.2012.05.003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 124 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nobuhiko Akazawa ◽

Youngju Choi ◽

Asako Miyaki ◽

Jun Sugawara ◽

Ryuichi Ajisaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training

Download Full-text

Carotid Arterial Stiffness and Cerebral Blood Flow in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Current Alzheimer Research ◽

10.2174/1567205018666210113155646 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 1115-1125

Author(s):

Tsubasa Tomoto ◽

Jun Sugawara ◽

Takashi Tarumi ◽

Collin Chiles ◽

Bryon Curtis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Systolic Pressure ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Stiffness Index ◽

Carotid Arterial

Background: Central arterial stiffness is an emerging risk factor of age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: We tested the hypothesis that carotid arterial stiffness is associated with reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) and increased cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of AD. Methods: Fifty-four patients with amnestic MCI and 24 cognitively normal subjects (CN) of similar age and sex to MCI patients underwent measurements of CBF and carotid β-stiffness index using ultrasonography and applanation tonometry. Total CBF was measured as the sum of CBF from both the internal carotid and vertebral arteries, and divided by total brain tissue mass (assessed with MRI) to obtain normalized CBF (nCBF). Results: Relative to CN subjects, MCI patients showed lower nCBF (53.3 ± 3.2 vs 50.4±3.4 mL/100 g/min, P < 0.001) and higher CVR (0.143 ± 0.019 vs 0.156 ± 0.023 mmHg/mL/min, P < 0.015). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that nCBF was negatively associated with carotid β-stiffness index (B = -0.822, P < 0.001); CVR was positively associated with carotid systolic pressure (B = 0.001, P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and MCI status. Conclusion: These findings suggest that carotid artery stiffening may contribute at least in part to the reduced nCBF and increased CVR in patients with MCI associated with augmented carotid arterial pulsatility.

Download Full-text