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. 2022 Nov:242:103023.
doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2022.103023. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

Exploring the interplay between mechanisms of neuroplasticity and cardiovascular health in aging adults: A multiple linear regression analysis study

Danylo F Cabral  1 , Marcelo Bigliassi  2 , Gabriele Cattaneo  3 , Tatjana Rundek  4 , Alvaro Pascual-Leone  5 , Lawrence P Cahalin  6 , Joyce Gomes-Osman  7
Affiliations

Exploring the interplay between mechanisms of neuroplasticity and cardiovascular health in aging adults: A multiple linear regression analysis study

Danylo F Cabral et al. Auton Neurosci. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Neuroplasticity and cardiovascular health behavior are critically important factors for optimal brain health.

Objective: To assess the association between the efficacy of the mechanisms of neuroplasticity and metrics of cardiovascular heath in sedentary aging adults.

Methods: We included thirty sedentary individuals (age = 60.6 ± 3.8 y; 63 % female). All underwent assessments of neuroplasticity, measured by the change in amplitude of motor evoked potentials elicited by single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at baseline and following intermittent Theta-Burst (iTBS) at regular intervals. Cardiovascular health measures were derived from the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test and included Heart Rate Recovery (HRR) at 1-min/2-min after test cessation. We also collected plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and c-reactive protein.

Results: We revealed moderate but significant relationships between TMS-iTBS neuroplasticity, and the predictors of cardiovascular health (|r| = 0.38 to 0.53, p < .05). HRR1 was the best predictor of neuroplasticity (β = 0.019, p = .002). The best fit model (Likelihood ratio = 5.83, p = .016) of the association between neuroplasticity and HRR1 (β = 0.043, p = .002) was selected when controlling for demographics and health status. VEGF and BDNF plasma levels augmented the association between neuroplasticity and HRR1.

Conclusions: Our findings build on existing data demonstrating that TMS may provide insight into neuroplasticity and the role cardiovascular health have on its mechanisms. These implications serve as theoretical framework for future longitudinal and interventional studies aiming to improve cardiovascular and brain health. HRR1 is a potential prognostic measure of cardiovascular health and a surrogate marker of brain health in aging adults.

Keywords: Autonomic system; Brain plasticity; Cardiovascular function; Endothelium; Heart rate recovery; Older adults; Transcranial magnetic stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Dr. J. Gomes-Osman works as Director of Interventional Therapy at Linus Health; A. Pascual-Leone is a co-founder of Linus Health and TI Solutions AG; serves as a paid member of the scientific advisory boards for Starlab Neuroscience, Magstim Inc., and MedRhythms; and is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of noninvasive brain stimulation with electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. None of the mentioned companies contributed to or had any influence on the design, conduct, analysis, or publication of the reported findings.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Study Design and Conceptual Framework.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Study Flowchart.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
TMS-iTBS induced modulation of MEPs. Shade highlights the interval Post 10-20%Δ. Abbreviations. M = mean; SE = standard error; iTBS = intermittent Theta-Burst; MEPs = motor evoked potentials; %Δ = percent change.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Subgroup analysis of ‘Excitatory’ and ‘Inhibitory’ TMS-iTBS induced modulation of MEPs. Abbreviations. M = mean; SE = standard error; MEPs = motor evoked potentials; %Δ = percent change.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Neuroplasticity vs. Cardiovascular health measures. Note. Post10-20%Δ represents the percentage change (%Δ) in peak-to-peak MEP amplitude from baseline to the period 10-20 minutes post-iTBS. The values are represented in the decimal form where −1.0 represents a decrement in neuroplasticity of 100% and +1.0 represents an increase in neuroplasticity of 100%.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Neuroplasticity vs. Circulating markers of endothelium function Note. Post10-20%Δ represents the percentage change (%Δ) in peak-to-peak MEP amplitude from baseline to the period 10-20 minutes post-iTBS. The values are represented in the decimal form where −1.0 represents a decrement in neuroplasticity of 100% and +1.0 represents an increase in neuroplasticity of 100%.
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