Hemodynamic changes during aging associated with cerebral blood flow and impaired cognitive function.
This study investigates the age associated changes in hemorheological properties and cerebral blood flow. Partial correlations indicate that part of the age-dependent decrease in flow velocities can be attributed to a hemorheological decrement resulting in part from enhanced oxidative stress in the aged. A possible link with Alzheimer's pathology is suggested by the augmented hemorheological impairment resulting from in vitro incubation of red cells with amyloids. These results suggest that in aging, oxidative stress as well as amyloids may influence the fluid properties of blood, resulting in a potential decrement in blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain. Animal intervention studies further demonstrate that altered hemorheological properties of blood can actually influence cognitive function. The relationships shown to exist between hemorheology, blood flow, amyloids, oxidative stress, and cognitive function suggest that these factors may be one of the mechanisms operating in the complex etiology of Alzheimer's disease.
Ajmani
R S
RS
National Institutes of Health, Gerontology Research Center, Laboratories of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Metter
E J
EJ
Jaykumar
R
R
Ingram
D K
DK
Spangler
E L
EL
Abugo
O O
OO
Rifkind
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012212:Rheology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin