Effects of age and sex on middle cerebral artery blood velocity and flow pulsatility index across the adult lifespan. 2021

Mohammed R Alwatban, and Stacey E Aaron, and Carolyn S Kaufman, and Jill N Barnes, and Patrice Brassard, and Jaimie L Ward, and Kathleen B Miller, and Anna J Howery, and Lawrence Labrecque, and Sandra A Billinger
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

Reduced middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) and flow pulsatility are contributors to age-related cerebrovascular disease pathogenesis. It is unknown whether the rate of changes in MCAv and flow pulsatility support the hypothesis of sex-specific trajectories with aging. Therefore, we sought to characterize the rate of changes in MCAv and flow pulsatility across the adult lifespan in females and males as well as within specified age ranges. Participant characteristics, mean arterial pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide, unilateral MCAv, and flow pulsatility index (PI) were determined from study records compiled from three institutional sites. A total of 524 participants [18-90 yr; females 57 (17) yr, n = 319; males 50 (21) yr, n = 205] were included in the analysis. MCAv was significantly higher in females within the second (P < 0.001), fifth (P = 0.01), and sixth (P < 0.01) decades of life. Flow PI was significantly lower in females within the second decade of life (P < 0.01). Rate of MCAv decline was significantly greater in females than males (-0.39 vs. -0.26 cm s-1·yr, P = 0.04). Rate of flow PI rise was significantly greater in females than males (0.006 vs. 0.003 flow PI, P = 0.01). Rate of MCAv change was significantly greater in females than males in the sixth decade of life (-1.44 vs. 0.13 cm s-1·yr, P = 0.04). These findings indicate that sex significantly contributes to age-related differences in both MCAv and flow PI. Therefore, further investigation into cerebrovascular function within and between sexes is warranted to improve our understanding of the reported sex differences in cerebrovascular disease prevalence.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We present the largest dataset (n = 524) pooled from three institutions to study how age and sex affect middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) and flow pulsatility index (PI) across the adult lifespan. We report the rate of MCAv decline and flow PI rise is significantly greater in females compared with in males. These data suggest that sex-specific trajectories with aging and therapeutic interventions to promote healthy brain aging should consider these findings.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008136 Longevity The normal length of time of an organism's life. Length of Life,Life Span,Lifespan,Life Spans,Lifespans
D008297 Male Males
D001783 Blood Flow Velocity A value equal to the total volume flow divided by the cross-sectional area of the vascular bed. Blood Flow Velocities,Flow Velocities, Blood,Flow Velocity, Blood,Velocities, Blood Flow,Velocity, Blood Flow
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D002560 Cerebrovascular Circulation The circulation of blood through the BLOOD VESSELS of the BRAIN. Brain Blood Flow,Regional Cerebral Blood Flow,Cerebral Blood Flow,Cerebral Circulation,Cerebral Perfusion Pressure,Circulation, Cerebrovascular,Blood Flow, Brain,Blood Flow, Cerebral,Brain Blood Flows,Cerebral Blood Flows,Cerebral Circulations,Cerebral Perfusion Pressures,Circulation, Cerebral,Flow, Brain Blood,Flow, Cerebral Blood,Perfusion Pressure, Cerebral,Pressure, Cerebral Perfusion
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D020768 Middle Cerebral Artery The largest of the cerebral arteries. It trifurcates into temporal, frontal, and parietal branches supplying blood to most of the parenchyma of these lobes in the CEREBRAL CORTEX. These are the areas involved in motor, sensory, and speech activities. Cerebral Artery, Middle,Arteries, Middle Cerebral,Artery, Middle Cerebral,Cerebral Arteries, Middle,Middle Cerebral Arteries

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