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Cardiovascular Disease Risk Is Associated With Middle Cerebral Artery Blood Flow Velocity in Older Adults

Sophy J. Perdomo, PhD;¹ Jaimie Ward, MS;¹ Yumei Liu, MD, PhD;¹ Eric D. Vidoni, PT, PhD;² Jason F. Sisante, PhD;^1,3 Kiersten Kirkendoll, DPT;¹ Jeffrey M. Burns, MD;² Sandra A. Billinger, PT, PhD¹
1 Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
2 University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Fairway, KS
3 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on middle cerebral blood flow velocity (MCAv) at rest and during exercise. A secondary aim was to explore the relationship between MCAv and (1) the presence of white matter lesions (WMLs) and (2) cognitive function.
Methods: We recruited individuals who were cognitively normal older adults. Cardiovascular disease risk was assessed by the Pooled Cohort atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk score. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound
measured middle cerebral artery at rest and during a bout ofmoderate-intensity exercise.WequantifiedWMLs from magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive function outcomes included executive function, language, processing speed, and attention. Results: Seventy-two participants 70.164.7 years of age completed the study protocol. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score was significantly associated with resting and exercise MCAv (P,.01) but not associated with WMLs (P..468).Weobserved a significant association between resting and exercise MCAv and language processing (P 5 .010) but not other cognitive domains. Conclusions: In cognitively normal older adults, higher ASCVD risk score was associated with blunted resting and exercise MCAv and with lower language processing performance. These results highlight the need for CVD risk management to maintain optimal brain health. (Cardiopulm Phys Ther J. 2019;00:1–9) Key Words: ultrasound imaging, brain health, agin

Cardiovascular_Disease_Risk_Is_Associated_With.99961 (2).pdf