14 research outputs found
Aerobic exercise training enhances cerebrovascular pulsatility response to acute aerobic exercise in older adults
The brain\u27s low resistance ensures a robust blood flow throughout systole and diastole and is susceptible to flow pulsatility. Increased cerebral pulsatility contributes to the progression of cerebrovascular disease. Although aerobic exercise affects vascular function, little is known about the effect of exercise on the cerebral pulsatility index in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise training on the postâexercise cerebral pulsatility response in older adults. Ten healthy older adults participated in a 12âweek exercise training intervention. Before and after the intervention, we measured the pulsatility index of the middle cerebral artery by means of transcranial Doppler method at baseline and following a cycling exercise bout performed at an intensity corresponding to the ventilatory threshold. Before exercise training, there was no significant change in the cerebral pulsatility response to an acute bout of cycling exercise. However, after the intervention, cerebral pulsatility decreased significantly following 30 min of an acute cycling exercise (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated that cerebral pulsatility index did not change following an acute bout of cycling exercise at an intensity corresponding to ventilatory threshold, but that, after 12 weeks of exercise training, cerebral pulsatility index was reduced at 30 min after a single bout of cycling exercise. These results suggest that longâterm aerobic exercise training may enhance the postâexercise reduction in pulsatility index in older adults
Combined effects of sleep and objectively-measured daily physical activity on arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults
Although sleep quality and physical activity (PA) may influence on arterial stiffness, the combined effects of these two factors on arterial stiffness remain unknown. A total of 103 healthy middle-aged and older men and women (aged 50â83Â years) with no history of cardiovascular disease and depression were included in this study. Arterial stiffness was measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), and femoral-ankle PWV (faPWV). Poor sleepers were defined as those with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of >5.5. Using an accelerometer for seven consecutive days, low levels of PA were defined as low moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA)Â <19.0Â min/day and low step counts <7100 steps/day, respectively. Poor sleepers with low PA levels, as determined by MVPA and daily steps, showed higher cfPWV, but not faPWV or baPWV, in middle-aged and older adults. Furthermore, in the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analyses adjusted for age, obesity, dyslipidemia, and sedentary behavior, the cfPWV result remained significant. Our study revealed that the coexistence of poor sleep quality and decreased PA (low MVPA or daily steps) might increase central arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults. Therefore, adequate sleep (good and sufficient sleep quality) and regular PA, especially at appropriate levels of MVPA (i.e., at least of 7100 steps/day), should be encouraged to decrease central arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults
Cerebral blood flow velocity is associated with endothelial function in men
Background and objective: Reduction in cerebral blood flow with aging
leads to cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Cerebrovascular hemodynamics are
associated with vascular function. However, little is known about endothelial
function in relation to cerebral blood flow at rest. The present study aimed to
examine the association between microvascular endothelial function and middle
cerebral blood flow.
Material and methods: This study involved 60 healthy middle-aged and
elderly men. The microvascular endothelial function was measured via digital
reactive hyperemia index using pulse amplitude tonometry, and the mean middle
cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebrovascular conductance were measured using
transcranial Doppler ultrasonography.
Results and conclusions: Reactive hyperemia index was significantly
correlated with the mean middle cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebrovascular
conductance. Multiple regression analysis further indicated that the correlation
was significant after adjustment of covariates, such as age, body mass index,
smoking status, medication history, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness.
Further, Reactive hyperemia index was found to be a significant independent
determinant of the mean middle cerebral blood flow velocity and cerebrovascular
conductance. The present study demonstrated that vascular
endothelial function is associated with cerebral blood flow and is an independent
potential confounding factor in healthy middle-aged and older men
Sugar-Rich Food Intake Is Negatively Associated with Plasma Pentraxin 3 Levels
Background : Levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an anti-inflammatory cardioprotective protein, increase after weight loss in obese men and aerobic exercise in non-obese adults. However, the effect of nutritional characteristics on PTX3 levels remains unclear. This population-based, cross-sectional study investigated the association between circulating PTX3 levels and food intake in Japanese adults. Methods : We hypothesized that the consumption of high amounts of high-sugar foods would lead to low plasma PTX3 levels, resulting in obesity. This study included 327 participants categorized depending on the consumption of the recommended amount of confectionary and sugar-sweetened beverages (CSSB) into high and low groups. Results : PTX3 levels were significantly lower in the high CSSB group than in the low CSSB group. Biological sex was the strongest effector of PTX3 levels. Moreover, the intake of Tsukudani and CSSB, as well as some metabolic syndrome factors, also affect PTX3 levels. In the groups categorized by sex and age, the determinants of PTX3 levels differed. Body mass index, waist circumference (WC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly associated with PTX3 levels in women. Tsukudani, HDL-C, heart rate, saturated fatty acids, systolic blood pressure, and CSSB were associated with PTX3 levels in individuals aged >65 years. Conclusion : Our results show that circulating PTX3 levels are affected by sex, sugar-rich foods, and metabolic syndrome characteristics (WC, HDL-C)
Association between duration of excessive weight and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults
This study aims to evaluate the association between duration of overweight/obesity and arterial stiffness. In total, 103 men and women aged 45â68 years with a body mass index (BMI) of âĽ25 kg/m2 were enrolled in this study. Duration of overweight/obesity was calculated for individuals with at least two consecutive BMI occurrences of âĽ25 kg/m2 in the previous (5-year intervals from 20 years old) and present BMI information. Multiple regression analysis showed that carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, an index of arterial stiffness, was independently associated with the duration of overweight/obesity, but not with current degree of overweight/obesity
Relationship between serum testosterone concentration and microvascular endothelial function in Japanese men
Background: Both endothelial dysfunction and low circulating androgen
levels predict cardiovascular disease in men. Endothelial function evaluation is
commonly performed by measuring flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial
artery. However, studies have suggested that compared with evaluation of large
arteries, microvascular function evaluation of peripheral arteries is a better
predictor of increased cardiovascular disease risks. Although circulating levels
of androgens, such as testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S),
positively correlate with cardiovascular function, the association between
circulating androgen levels and microvascular function is unknown. In this study,
we investigated whether serum androgen levels correlate with microvascular
endothelial function in men. Methods: The study included 105 Japanese men (age 59 Âą 1 years)
in whom we measured serum testosterone and DHEA-S levels. The reactive hyperemia
index (RHI) determined by the Endo-PAT system (finger plethysmography) was used
to evaluate microvascular endothelial function. Results: Serum testosterone levels were significantly correlated with
the RHI (r = 0.32, P < 0.01). The association between serum
testosterone levels and the RHI remained significant even after adjustment for
confounders, including age and body mass index (β = 0.31,
P < 0.01). Notably, serum DHEA-S levels were not associated with the
RHI (r = 0.01, n.s.). Conclusion: This study showed that serum testosterone levels were
positively correlated with microvascular endothelial function in men. These
results suggest that endogenous testosterone level is one of the determinants of
microvascular endothelial function and may become a biomarker reflecting
lifestyle modifications-induced improvement in cardiovascular function in men