Abstract
Introduction
Age-related stiffening of the large elastic arteries (e.g., common carotid artery [CCA]) may impair wall dynamics (i.e., strain) and amplify transmission of pulsatile blood flow into the brain with large increases in pressure that occur during maximal resistance exercise (RE). The purpose of this study was to compare CCA arterial wall dynamics, central hemodynamics, and cerebral blood velocity responses during maximal RE between young and older adults.
Methods
Thirty-one young (YA; 26 ± 5 yrs; 23.8 ± 3.3 kg/m2) and 25 older adults (OA; 60 ± 6 yrs; 30.0 ± 5.5 kg/m2) performed a unilateral maximal isokinetic knee flexion/extension exercise protocol (i.e., maximal RE). All measures were recorded at baseline and during the last 10 s of maximal RE. Common carotid artery strain, CCA strain time to peak, and CCA strain rate (i.e., variables of arterial wall dynamics) were analyzed using 2D speckle tracking software from circumferential ultrasound images. Transcranial Doppler was used to measure right middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood velocity. Non-invasive arterial blood pressure measurements were obtained using finger photoplethysmography.
Results
Older adults had greater reductions in CCA strain time to peak from baseline to maximal RE (345 ± 39 to 242 ± 52 ms) than YA (308 ± 35 to 247 ± 42 ms; interaction effect, p < 0.01). MCA velocity was similar between YA and OA during maximal RE (p = 0.48), despite a greater arterial pressor response in OA (p < 0.01).
Conclusion
These data suggest cerebral blood velocity responds similarly during maximal RE among OA compared to YA, despite subtle age-related differences in the pressor and extracranial vascular response during maximal RE.
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Abbreviations
- CCA:
-
Common carotid artery
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- BP:
-
Blood pressure
- CAVI:
-
Cardio/ankle vascular index
- cIMT:
-
Carotid intima-media thickness
- CO2 :
-
Carbon-dioxide
- CVD:
-
Cardiovascular disease
- DBP:
-
Diastolic blood pressure
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- MAP:
-
Mean arterial pressure
- MCA:
-
Middle cerebral artery
- OA:
-
Older adults
- Pi:
-
Pulsatility index
- PP:
-
Pulse pressure
- Q:
-
Cardiac output
- RE:
-
Resistance exercise
- SBP:
-
Systolic blood pressure
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- SV:
-
Stroke volume
- SVR:
-
Systemic vascular resistance
- YA:
-
Young adults
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Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, 5F32HL144082-04, Alexander Rosenberg.
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Sherman, S.R., Lefferts, W.K., Lefferts, E.C. et al. The effect of aging on carotid artery wall mechanics during maximal resistance exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 2477–2488 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05016-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-05016-z