TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurovascular coupling during cognitive activity in adults with controlled hypertension
AU - Lefferts, Wesley K.
AU - DeBlois, Jacob P.
AU - Barreira, Tiago
AU - Heffernan, Kevin S
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 the American Physiological Society.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Hypertension even when controlled, may accelerate arterial stiffening and impair the ability of the cerebrovasculature to increase blood flow to support neural activity, i.e., neurovascular coupling (NVC). Optimal NVC depends on continuous, nonpulsatile flow, which is partially determined by extra- and intracranial vessel function. We sought to compare extra- and intracranial hemodynamics during cognitive activity (Stroop task) in 30 middle-aged, well-controlled medicated hypertensive and 30 age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched nonhypertensive adults (56 6 years, 28.2 2.9 kg/m 2 BMI; 32 men). Aortic and carotid (single point) pulse wave velocity (PWV) were assessed via tonometry and ultrasound, respectively. Carotid and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood velocity pulsatility were measured via ultrasound and Doppler. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation was measured via tissue saturation index (TSI) using near-infrared spectroscopy. Accuracy and reaction times were computed to assess cognitive performance. Stroop performance was similar between groups (P 0.01). Aortic and carotid PWV increased, carotid flow pulsatility decreased (P 0.01), and MCA flow pulsatility and PFC TSI were maintained during Stroop (P 0.01). Our findings indicate that middle-age adults with medically controlled hypertension and adults without hypertension demonstrate similar intra- and extracranial cerebrovascular reactivity during cognitive engagement. Despite increases in large artery stiffness, middle-aged adults with controlled hypertension and without hypertension exhibit reductions in extracranial flow pulsatility during cognitive engagement that may be part of a concerted cerebrovascular response to support downstream cerebral oxygenation and overall NVC. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Hypertension is associated with accelerated arterial stiffening, which may alter extra- and intracranial vascular reactivity during cognitive activity and impair neurovascular coupling. Middle-aged adults with medicated hypertension exhibit similar neurovascular coupling and extra-/intracranial vascular reactivity during sustained cognitive activity. Extracranial modulation of central hemodynamics may be an important component of optimal neurovascular coupling.
AB - Hypertension even when controlled, may accelerate arterial stiffening and impair the ability of the cerebrovasculature to increase blood flow to support neural activity, i.e., neurovascular coupling (NVC). Optimal NVC depends on continuous, nonpulsatile flow, which is partially determined by extra- and intracranial vessel function. We sought to compare extra- and intracranial hemodynamics during cognitive activity (Stroop task) in 30 middle-aged, well-controlled medicated hypertensive and 30 age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched nonhypertensive adults (56 6 years, 28.2 2.9 kg/m 2 BMI; 32 men). Aortic and carotid (single point) pulse wave velocity (PWV) were assessed via tonometry and ultrasound, respectively. Carotid and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood velocity pulsatility were measured via ultrasound and Doppler. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation was measured via tissue saturation index (TSI) using near-infrared spectroscopy. Accuracy and reaction times were computed to assess cognitive performance. Stroop performance was similar between groups (P 0.01). Aortic and carotid PWV increased, carotid flow pulsatility decreased (P 0.01), and MCA flow pulsatility and PFC TSI were maintained during Stroop (P 0.01). Our findings indicate that middle-age adults with medically controlled hypertension and adults without hypertension demonstrate similar intra- and extracranial cerebrovascular reactivity during cognitive engagement. Despite increases in large artery stiffness, middle-aged adults with controlled hypertension and without hypertension exhibit reductions in extracranial flow pulsatility during cognitive engagement that may be part of a concerted cerebrovascular response to support downstream cerebral oxygenation and overall NVC. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Hypertension is associated with accelerated arterial stiffening, which may alter extra- and intracranial vascular reactivity during cognitive activity and impair neurovascular coupling. Middle-aged adults with medicated hypertension exhibit similar neurovascular coupling and extra-/intracranial vascular reactivity during sustained cognitive activity. Extracranial modulation of central hemodynamics may be an important component of optimal neurovascular coupling.
KW - arterial stiffness
KW - carotid hemodynamics
KW - hypertension
KW - neurovascular coupling
KW - pulsatility
KW - blood pressure
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U2 - 10.1152/japplphysiol.00100.2018
DO - 10.1152/japplphysiol.00100.2018
M3 - Article
C2 - 30048202
AN - SCOPUS:85059144562
SN - 8750-7587
VL - 125
SP - 1906
EP - 1916
JO - Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - Journal of Applied Physiology
IS - 6
ER -