Preventive geriatrics the cross-talk between arterial and brain aging: A lifelong condition

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 87; no. Pt B; pp. 148 - 150
• Main Authors: Scuteri, Angelo, Tesauro, Manfredi, Di Daniele, Nicola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Arterial stiffness; Arteries; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Pressure; Brain - physiopathology; Carotid Arteries - physiopathology; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Dementia - complications; Dementia - prevention & control; Femoral Artery - physiopathology; Geriatrics; Humans; Life-course approach; Pulse Wave Analysis; Pulse wave velocity; Vascular Stiffness; EVA; CV; Arterial stiffness; Aging; Pulse wave velocity; Life-course approach; PWV; Arteries; Cognitive impairment; Dementia
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2016.06.003

Arterial aging - clinically evaluable noninvasively as carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), an index of arterial stiffness – has emerged as a risky condition for cardiovascular events and cognitive decline. With advancing age, arterial aging is less and less dependent on blood pressure levels. We propose a life-course approach to the cross-talking between arterial and brain aging aimed at preventing disabling conditions at older ages. This vision is supported by growing evidence that “silent” alteration in large artery as well as in brain structure and function are already detectable at young ages. •Arterial aging - indexed as Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) – is a risk factor for cognitive decline that is less and less dependent on blood pressure in older subjects•Arterial aging can be identified at early stage, in younger subjects, in whom it is associated with alteration in brain function and structure.•A life-course approach to the cross-talking between arterial and brain aging may strengthen prevention strategy in population.