Publication

Elderly women regulate brain blood flow better than men do

Deegan, B. M.
Sorond, F. A.
Galica, A.
Lipsitz, L. A.
O'Laighin, G.
Serrador, J. M.
Citation
Deegan, B. M. Sorond, F. A.; Galica, A.; Lipsitz, L. A.; O'Laighin, G.; Serrador, J. M. (2011). Elderly women regulate brain blood flow better than men do. Stroke 42 (7), 1988-1993
Abstract
Background and Purpose-Orthostatic intolerance and falls differ between sexes and change with age. However, it remains unclear what role cerebral autoregulation may play in this response. This study was designed to determine whether cerebral autoregulation, assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound, is more effective in elderly females than in males. Methods-We used transcranial Doppler ultrasound to evaluate cerebral autoregulation in 544 (236 male) subjects older than age 70 years recruited as part of the MOBILIZE Boston study. The MOBILIZE Boston study is a prospective cohort study of a unique set of risk factors for falls in seniors in the Boston area. We assessed CO(2) reactivity and transfer function gain, phase, and coherence during 5 minutes of quiet sitting and autoregulatory index during sit-to-stand tests. Results-Male subjects had significantly lower CO(2) reactivity (males, 1.10 +/- 0.03; females, 1.32 +/- 0.43 (cm/s)/% CO(2); P<0.001) and autoregulatory indices (males, 4.41 +/- 2.44; female, 5.32 +/- 2.47; P<0.001), higher transfer function gain (males, 1.34 +/- 0.49; females, 1.19 +/- 0.43; P=0.002), and lower phase (males, 42.7 +/- 23.6; females, 49.4 +/- 24.9; P=0.002) in the autoregulatory band, implying less effective cerebral autoregulation. However, reduced autoregulation in males was not below the normal range, indicating autoregulation was intact but less effective. Conclusions-Female subjects were better able to maintain cerebral flow velocities during postural changes and demonstrated better cerebral autoregulation. The mechanisms of sex-based differences in autoregulation remain unclear but may partially explain the higher rates of orthostatic hypotension-related hospitalizations in elderly men. (Stroke. 2011; 42: 1988-1993.)
Funder
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publisher DOI
10.1161/strokeaha.110.605618
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland