Functional imaging of working memory and peripheral endothelial function in middle-aged adults

The current study examined the relationship between a prognostic indicator of vascular health, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and working memory-related brain activation in healthy middle-aged adults. Forty-two participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while completing a 2-Back wor...

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Published inBrain and cognition Vol. 73; no. 2; pp. 146 - 151
Main Authors Gonzales, Mitzi M., Tarumi, Takashi, Tanaka, Hirofumi, Sugawara, Jun, Swann-Sternberg, Tali, Goudarzi, Katayoon, Haley, Andreana P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.07.2010
Elsevier
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Summary:The current study examined the relationship between a prognostic indicator of vascular health, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and working memory-related brain activation in healthy middle-aged adults. Forty-two participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while completing a 2-Back working memory task. Brachial artery endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed using B-mode ultrasound. The relationship between FMD and task-related brain activation in a priori regions of interest was modeled using hierarchical linear regression. Brachial FMD, was significantly related to reduced working memory-related activation in the right superior parietal lobule ( β = 0.338, p = 0.027), independent of age, sex, systolic blood pressure, and full scale IQ ( F(5, 36) = 2.66, p = 0.038). These data provide preliminary support for the association between a preclinical marker of endothelial dysfunction and cerebral hemodynamic alterations in healthy middle-aged adults. Considering the modifiable nature of endothelial function, additional investigations on the prognostic significance of FMD on future cognitive impairment are warranted.
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ISSN:0278-2626
1090-2147
DOI:10.1016/j.bandc.2010.04.007