Open AccessCardiometabolic risk factors predict cerebrovascular health in older adults: results from the Brain in Motion study
Author(s) -
Tyndall Amanda V.,
Argourd Laurie,
Sajobi Tolulope T.,
Davenport Margie H.,
Forbes Scott C.,
Gill Stephanie J.,
Parboosingh Jillian S.,
Anderson Todd J.,
Wilson Ben J.,
Smith Eric E.,
Hogan David B.,
Hill Michael D.,
Poulin Marc J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.12733
Subject(s) - medicine , metabolic syndrome , apolipoprotein e , stroke (engine) , cardiology , risk factor , disease , gerontology , obesity , mechanical engineering , engineering
Aging and physical inactivity are associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). With the rising prevalence of MetS, it is important to determine the extent to which it affects cerebrovascular health. The primary purpose of this report is to examine the impact of MetS on cerebrovascular health (resting cerebral blood flow ( CBF ) peak velocity ( V ¯ P ), cerebrovascular conductance ( CVC ), and CBF responses to hypercapnia) in healthy older adults with normal cognition. A secondary goal was to examine the influence of apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) ε 4 expression on these indices. In a sample of 258 healthy men and women older than 53 years, 29.1% met criteria for MetS. MetS, sex, and age were found to be significant predictors of CVC , andV ¯ P , MetS, and APOE status were significant predictors ofV ¯ P ‐reactivity, and CVC ‐reactivity was best predicted by MetS status. After controlling for these factors, participants with MetS demonstrated lower cerebrovascular measures ( CVC ,V ¯ P , CVC ‐reactivity, andV ¯ P ‐reactivity) compared to participants without MetS. APOE ε 4 carriers had higherV ¯ P ‐reactivity than noncarriers. These results provide evidence that cardiometabolic and vascular risk factors clustered together as the MetS predict measures of cerebrovascular health indices in older adults. HigherV ¯ P ‐reactivity in APOE ε 4 carriers suggests vascular compensation for deleterious effects of this known risk allele for Alzheimer's disease and stroke.