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. 2014 Jun;35(6):1396-403.
doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.12.008. Epub 2013 Dec 18.

Cardiovascular risks and brain function: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of executive function in older adults

Yi-Fang Chuang  1 , Dana Eldreth  1 , Kirk I Erickson  2 , Vijay Varma  3 , Gregory Harris  4 , Linda P Fried  5 , George W Rebok  3 , Elizabeth K Tanner  6 , Michelle C Carlson  7
Affiliations

Cardiovascular risks and brain function: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of executive function in older adults

Yi-Fang Chuang et al. Neurobiol Aging. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia are associated with cognitive impairment and risk of dementia in older adults. However, the mechanisms linking them are not clear. This study aims to investigate the association between aggregate CV risk, assessed by the Framingham general cardiovascular risk profile, and functional brain activation in a group of community-dwelling older adults. Sixty participants (mean age: 64.6 years) from the Brain Health Study, a nested study of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial, underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging using the Flanker task. We found that participants with higher CV risk had greater task-related activation in the left inferior parietal region, and this increased activation was associated with poorer task performance. Our results provide insights into the neural systems underlying the relationship between CV risk and executive function. Increased activation of the inferior parietal region may offer a pathway through which CV risk increases risk for cognitive impairment.

Keywords: Brain function; Cardiovascular risk; Executive function; Framingham risk score; Older adults; fMRI.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The flowchart of selection of the study sample.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The Flanker task.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Correlation of fMRI activity with Framingham general cardiovascular risk score in IncLg versus ConLg contrast (A) axial view and (B) sagittal view. Abbreviations: ConLg, congruent large circle; fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging; IncLg, incongruent large circle.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Correlation of the Framingham general cardiovascular risk with (A) fMRI percent signal change, (B) RT differences, adjusting for age, in the left parietal region in IncLg versus ConLg and IncSm versus ConSm contrast (C) correlation between percent signal changes in the left parietal region and RT differences in IncLg versus ConLg and IncSm versus ConSm contrast. Abbreviations: ConLg, congruent large circle; ConSm, congruent small circle; fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging; IncLg, incongruent large circle; ConLg, congruent large circle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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