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Comparative Study
. 2009 Spring;21(2):173-80.
doi: 10.1176/jnp.2009.21.2.173.

Asymmetric insular function predicts positional blood pressure in nondemented elderly

Donald Royall  1 , Jia-Hong Gao, Xia Zhao, Marsha J Polk, Dean Kellogg
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Asymmetric insular function predicts positional blood pressure in nondemented elderly

Donald Royall et al. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009 Spring.

Abstract

Forty percent of nondemented octogenarians have Braak stages consistent with insular involvement, and may be at risk for "age-related" autonomic dysfunction. The authors examined the association between insular resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cardiovascular functions in 29 nondemented elderly subjects who were highly screened to exclude comorbid cardiovascular disease. Mean insular rCBF was significantly higher on the right than left. However, 35.4% of participants had left dominant rCBF (a high-risk group). Right insular rCBF was significantly lower in the high-risk group. This subset had significantly increased positional drops in systolic blood pressure. While these data cannot address Alzheimer's disease as the specific cause, this possibility is being investigated in other cohorts.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Statements. The authors (a) disclose no actual or potential conflicts of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the work submitted that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. (b) This protocol was approved by the UTHSCSA Institutional Review Board and the Medical Affairs Committee of the Air Force Villages.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Positional Change in Systolic Blood Pressure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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