Midlife Aerobic Exercise and Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation: Associations with Baroreflex Sensitivity and Central Arterial Stiffness

Author(s):  
Tsubasa Tomoto ◽  
Justin Repshas ◽  
Rong Zhang ◽  
Takashi Tarumi

Midlife aerobic exercise may significantly impact age-related changes in the cerebro- and cardiovascular regulations. This study investigated the associations of midlife aerobic exercise with dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA), cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and central arterial stiffness. Twenty middle-aged athletes (MA) who had aerobic training for >10 years were compared with 20 young (YS) and 20 middle-aged sedentary (MS) adults. Beat-to-beat cerebral blood flow velocity, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate were measured at rest and during forced BP oscillations induced by repeated sit-stand maneuvers at 0.05 Hz. Transfer function analysis was used to calculate dCA and BRS parameters. Carotid distensibility was measured by ultrasonography. MA had the highest peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) among all groups. During forced BP oscillations, MS showed lower BRS gain than YS, but this age-related reduction was absent in MA. Conversely, dCA was similar among all groups. At rest, BRS and dCA gains at low frequency (~0.1 Hz) were higher in the MA compared with MS and YS groups. Carotid distensibility was similar between MA and YS groups, but it was lower in the MS. Across all subjects, VO2peak was positively associated with BRS gains at rest and during forced BP oscillations (r=0.257~0.382, p=0.003~0.050) and carotid distensibility (r=0.428~0.490, p=0.001). Furthermore, dCA gain at rest and carotid distensibility were positively correlated with BRS gain at rest in YS and MA groups (all p<0.05). These findings suggest that midlife aerobic exercise improves central arterial elasticity and BRS which may contribute to CBF regulation through dCA.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2105-2116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kannakorn Intharakham ◽  
Lucy Beishon ◽  
Ronney B Panerai ◽  
Victoria J Haunton ◽  
Thompson G Robinson

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) has been shown to be impaired in cerebrovascular diseases, but there is a lack of consistency across different studies and the different metrics that have been proposed for assessment. We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses involving assessment of dCA in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Thirty-three articles describing assessment of dCA with transfer function analysis (TFA) were included, with meta-analyses performed for derived parameters of gain, phase and autoregulation index (ARI). A total of 1233 patients were pooled from 12 studies on acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and two studies on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In comparison with controls, TFA phase of AIS was significantly reduced (nine studies), in both hemispheres ( P < 0.0001). TFA gain provided inconsistent results, with reduced values in relation to controls, for both hemispheres. The ARI (six studies) was reduced compared to controls, in both hemispheres ( P < 0.005). In ICH, gain showed higher values compared to controls for the unaffected ( P = 0.01), but not for the affected hemisphere. Meta-analyses in AIS have demonstrated that phase and the ARI index can show highly significant differences in comparison with healthy controls, while ICH have been limited by the scarcity of studies and the diversity of units adopted for gain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simin Mahinrad ◽  
Behnam Sabayan ◽  
Chaney R. Garner ◽  
Donald M. Lloyd‐Jones ◽  
Farzaneh A. Sorond

Background Elevated natriuretic peptides (NP) are associated with adverse cerebrovascular conditions including stroke, cerebral small vessel disease, and dementia. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship of NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro brain NP) and NT‐proANP (N‐terminal pro atrial NP) with cerebrovascular function, measured by cerebral autoregulation. Methods and Results We included 154 participants (mean age 56±4 years old) from the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) cohort. NT‐proBNP and NT‐proANP were measured in blood samples from the year 25 examination using electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay and enzyme‐linked immunoassay, respectively. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) was assessed at the year 30 examination by transcranial Doppler ultrasound, using transfer function analysis (phase and gain) of spontaneous blood pressure and flow velocity oscillations, where lower phase and higher gain reflect less efficient cerebral autoregulation. We used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for demographics, vascular risk factors, and history of kidney and cardiac diseases. Higher NT‐proBNP levels at year 25 were associated with lower phase (β [95% CI]=−5.30 lower degrees of phase [−10.05 to −0.54]) and higher gain (β [95% CI]=0.06 higher cm/s per mm Hg of gain [0.004–0.12]) at year 30. Similarly, higher NT‐proANP levels were associated with lower phase (β [95% CI]=−9.08 lower degrees of phase [−16.46 to −1.70]). Conclusions Higher circulating levels of NT‐proBNP and NT‐proANP are associated with less efficient dCA 5 years later. These findings link circulating NP to cerebral autoregulation and may be one mechanism tying NP to adverse cerebrovascular outcomes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. H1202-H1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
Michelle Moody ◽  
Penelope J. Eames ◽  
John F. Potter

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) describes the transient response of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to rapid changes in arterial blood pressure (ABP). We tested the hypothesis that the efficiency of dynamic CA is increased by brain activation paradigms designed to induce hemispheric lateralization. CBF velocity [CBFV; bilateral, middle cerebral artery (MCA)], ABP, ECG, and end-tidal Pco2 were continuously recorded in 14 right-handed healthy subjects (21–43 yr of age), in the seated position, at rest and during 10 repeated presentations (30 s on-off) of a word generation test and a constructional puzzle. Nonstationarities were not found during rest or activation. Transfer function analysis of the ABP-CBFV (i.e., input-output) relation was performed for the 10 separate 51.2-s segments of data during activation and compared with baseline data. During activation, the coherence function below 0.05 Hz was significantly increased for the right MCA recordings for the puzzle tasks compared with baseline values (0.36 ± 0.16 vs. 0.26 ± 0.13, P < 0.05) and for the left MCA recordings for the word paradigm (0.48 ± 0.23 vs. 0.29 ± 0.16, P < 0.05). In the same frequency range, significant increases in gain were observed during the puzzle paradigm for the right (0.69 ± 0.37 vs. 0.46 ± 0.32 cm·s−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05) and left (0.61 ± 0.29 vs. 0.45 ± 0.24 cm·s−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05) hemispheres and during the word tasks for the left hemisphere (0.66 ± 0.31 vs. 0.39 ± 0.15 cm·s−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.01). Significant reductions in phase were observed during activation with the puzzle task for the right (−0.04 ± 1.01 vs. 0.80 ± 0.86 rad, P < 0.01) and left (0.11 ± 0.81 vs. 0.57 ± 0.51 rad, P < 0.05) hemispheres and with the word paradigm for the right hemisphere (0.05 ± 0.87 vs. 0.64 ± 0.59 rad, P < 0.05). Brain activation also led to changes in the temporal pattern of the CBFV step response. We conclude that transfer function analysis suggests important changes in dynamic CA during mental activation tasks.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 642-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yojiro Ogawa ◽  
Ken-ichi Iwasaki ◽  
Ken Aoki ◽  
Wakako Kojima ◽  
Jitsu Kato ◽  
...  

Background Dexmedetomidine, which is often used in intensive care units in patients with compromised circulation, might induce further severe decreases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) with temporal decreases in arterial pressure induced by various stimuli if dynamic cerebral autoregulation is not improved. Therefore, the authors hypothesized that dexmedetomidine strengthens dynamic cerebral autoregulation. Methods Fourteen healthy male subjects received placebo, low-dose dexmedetomidine (loading, 3 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) for 10 min; maintenance, 0.2 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) for 60 min), and high-dose dexmedetomidine (loading, 6 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) for 10 min; maintenance, 0.4 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) for 60 min) infusions in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. After 70 min of drug administration, dynamic cerebral autoregulation was estimated by transfer function analysis between arterial pressure variability and CBF velocity variability, and the thigh cuff method. Results Compared with placebo, steady state CBF velocity and mean blood pressure significantly decreased during administration of dexmedetomidine. Transfer function gain in the very-low-frequency range increased and phase in the low-frequency range decreased significantly, suggesting alterations in dynamic cerebral autoregulation in lower frequency ranges. Moreover, the dynamic rate of regulation and percentage restoration in CBF velocity significantly decreased when a temporal decrease in arterial pressure was induced by thigh cuff release. Conclusion Contrary to the authors' hypothesis, the current results of two experimental analyses suggest together that dexmedetomidine weakens dynamic cerebral autoregulation and delays restoration in CBF velocity during conditions of decreased steady state CBF velocity. Therefore, dexmedetomidine may lead to further sustained reductions in CBF during temporal decreases in arterial pressure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 1434-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Moon Jeong ◽  
Seon-Ok Kim ◽  
Darren S. DeLorey ◽  
Tony G. Babb ◽  
Benjamin D. Levine ◽  
...  

Cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR) and dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) are measured extensively in clinical and research studies. However, the relationship between these measurements of cerebrovascular function is not well understood. In this study, we measured changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and arterial blood pressure (BP) in response to stepwise increases in inspired CO2 concentrations of 3 and 6% to assess CVMR and dynamic CA in 13 healthy young adults [2 women, 32 ± 9 (SD) yr]. CVMR was assessed as percentage changes in CBFV (CVMRCBFV) or cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi, CVMRCVCi) in response to hypercapnia. Dynamic CA was estimated by performing transfer function analysis between spontaneous oscillations in BP and CBFV. Steady-state CBFV and CVCi both increased exponentially during hypercapnia; CVMRCBFV and CVMRCVCi were greater at 6% (3.85 ± 0.90 and 2.45 ± 0.79%/mmHg) than at 3% CO2 (2.09 ± 1.47 and 0.21 ± 1.56%/mmHg, P = 0.009 and 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, CVMRCBFV was greater than CVMRCVCi during either 3 or 6% CO2 ( P = 0.017 and P < 0.001, respectively). Transfer function gain and coherence increased in the very low frequency range (0.02-0.07 Hz), and phase decreased in the low-frequency range (0.07–0.20 Hz) when breathing 6%, but not 3% CO2. There were no correlations between the measurements of CVMR and dynamic CA. These findings demonstrated influences of inspired CO2 concentrations on assessment of CVMR and dynamic CA. The lack of correlation between CVMR and dynamic CA suggests that cerebrovascular responses to changes in arterial CO2 and BP are mediated by distinct regulatory mechanisms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 1067-1076
Author(s):  
Lucy C. Beishon ◽  
Kannakorn Intharakham ◽  
Victoria J. Haunton ◽  
Thompson G. Robinson ◽  
Ronney B. Panerai

Background: Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) remains intact in both ageing and dementia, but studies of neurovascular coupling (NVC) have produced mixed findings. Objective: We investigated the effects of task-activation on dCA in healthy older adults (HOA), and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Methods: Resting and task-activated data from thirty HOA, twenty-two MCI, and thirty-four AD were extracted from a database. The autoregulation index (ARI) was determined at rest and during five cognitive tasks from transfer function analysis. NVC responses were present where group-specific thresholds of cross-correlation peak function and variance ratio were exceeded. Cumulative response rate (CRR) was the total number of positive responses across five tasks and two hemispheres. Results: ARI differed between groups in dominant (p=0.012) and non-dominant (p=0.042) hemispheres at rest but not during task-activation (p=0.33). ARI decreased during language and memory tasks in HOA (p=0.002) but not in MCI or AD (p=0.40). There was a significant positive correlation between baseline ARI and CRR in all groups (r=0.26, p=0.018), but not within sub-groups. Conclusion: dCA efficiency was reduced in task-activation in healthy but not cognitively impaired participants. These results indicate differences in neurovascular processing in healthy older adults relative to cognitively impaired individuals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i24-i24
Author(s):  
L Perez-Denia ◽  
P Claffey ◽  
R A Kenny ◽  
C Finucane

Abstract Introduction Cerebral autoregulation (CA) ensures constant cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the face of blood pressure (BP) disturbances. While CA impairment is often implicated in the aetiology of age-related disorders e.g. falls, syncope, and brain ageing, there is conflicting evidence on the effect of normal or healthy ageing on cerebral autoregulation. Here we present results of a review investigating the effect of ageing on CA. Methods A search was performed in Pubmed using the search terms “cerebral autoregulation” AND (“ageing” OR “age” OR “older” OR “elderly”). Studies were included if they were human studies in English assessing CA in healthy volunteers (free from disease) in which the effect of ageing on CAR was studied. Exclusion criteria included non-human studies, diseased cohorts and studies not measuring CA. Results 26 studies (n=1326 total participants, age range 12-88) meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria were identified. Significant heterogeneity was noted in applied methodologies with 88% of studies using static and 53% using dynamic protocols to measure CA. Transcranial Doppler (88%) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) (11%) were the most commonly used. Transfer function analysis (TFA) (38%), the Autoregulatory Index (ARI) (15%), and wavelet analysis (11%) were used to derive CA metric. The majority of studies suggested that CA is preserved (n=15) with ageing. However, a smaller number of studies (n=7) noted that CA is impaired or altered with ageing. Conclusions There is a paucity of literature examining the relationship between CA and chronological ageing, with 60 per cent of studies reviewed suggesting that CA is preserved. Current hypotheses suggest that preservation of CA with ageing serves as a ‘reserve’ to compensate for impairment of other systems. Future work should investigate the role of impaired CA as potential biomarker of biological ageing.


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