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Changes of cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity during normal aging
A Kastrup1, J Dichgans, M Niemeier
1Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
Stroke
|July 11, 1998
Summary
Cerebrovascular reactivity (CR) remains stable in aging men but declines significantly in women after age 40. Hormone replacement therapy may enhance CR in postmenopausal women.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Transcranial Doppler sonography is used to assess cerebrovascular reactivity (CR).
- Age-related changes in CR, particularly CO2 reactivity, are debated.
- Previous studies indicated sex-based differences in CR, necessitating separate analyses for aging men and women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between normal aging and cerebrovascular reactivity (CR) in men and women separately.
- To determine if CR changes with age in healthy individuals.
- To explore the impact of sex on age-related CR changes.
Main Methods:
- Cerebrovascular reactivity (CR) was assessed using transcranial Doppler sonography.
- 100 healthy, nonsmoking volunteers aged 20–70 years participated (10 men and 10 women per decade).
Main Results:
- Cerebrovascular reactivity (CR) showed no significant age-related decline in men (P=0.98).
- In women, CR significantly declined from the 4th to the 5th decades (P<0.01).
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women was associated with enhanced CR, comparable to premenopausal levels.
Conclusions:
- Cerebrovascular reactivity (CR) does not change with normal aging in men.
- CR significantly declines in women between their 40s and 50s.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may improve cerebrovascular reactivity (CR) in postmenopausal women.