Characteristics of Rheoencephalography and some Associated Factors on Menopausal Women

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Women's Health

Background:

• Menopause is associated with increased cardiovascular risks, including cerebrovascular atherosclerosis.
• Early diagnosis of cerebrovascular atherosclerotic lesions is crucial.
• Rheoencephalography (REG) offers a non-invasive, cost-effective method for assessing cerebral circulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate vascular tone and cerebral circulation in menopausal women using REG.
• To identify factors associated with cerebrovascular changes in menopause.
• To assess the utility of REG in detecting early atherosclerotic lesions.

Main Methods:

• A controlled cross-sectional descriptive study involving 80 menopausal and 46 menstruating women.
• Rheoencephalography (REG) measurements were conducted using the VasoScreen 5000 impedance REG meter.
• Analysis focused on waveform characteristics and parameters, including vascular tone and cerebral blood flow.

Main Results:

• Menopausal women exhibited lower average REG, sharp waves, and clear side waves compared to controls (p<0.01).
• Conduction time and slope ratio were reduced (p<0.001), while peak time (p<0.01) and elasticity index (p<0.001) were increased in menopausal women.
• Increased vascular tone was observed in menopausal women, particularly those with central obesity (p<0.05), and decreased blood flow intensity was noted.

Conclusions:

• Menopausal women demonstrate signs of atherosclerosis in both brain hemispheres, indicated by increased vascular tone.
• Central obesity significantly elevates the risk of vascular hypertonia in both cerebral hemispheres.
• REG parameters are valuable for detecting cerebrovascular changes associated with menopause.