Brain Blood Flow: Age and Gender

Completed

• Conditions: Aging; Healthy
• Interventions: Device: MRI; Device: TCD

• Registration Number: NCT02840851
• Lead Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Brief Summary

Baseline cerebral blood flow through the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and cerebral vasodilator response of the MCA to inhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) will be measured in young women, young men, older women, and older men using Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging and transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). Data collection techniques will be compared.

Detailed Description

The investigators have recently shown that cerebral blood flow responses to chemical stimuli are reduced in healthy older adults. The investigators also have preliminary data suggesting that sex differences in cerebrovascular regulation exist. The overall goal of this application is to extend on the investigators previous studies by employing advanced neuroimaging techniques to enhance the investigators understanding of neurovascular coupling in healthy aging. This study will collect clinically significant data with implications for the future risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

The research aims are:

1. To determine the effect of age and sex on baseline cerebral blood flow through the middle cerebral artery (MCA).

2. To determine the effect of age and sex on cerebral vasodilator responses.

3. To determine if the cerebrovascular responses measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) are associated with the cerebrovascular responses measured by Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-07-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-07-19
• Study First Posted: 2016-07-21
• Study Start: 2016-11
• Primary Completion: 2018-09
• Study Completion: 2018-09
• Status Verified: 2019-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-12-06
• Last Update Posted: 2019-12-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 46

Inclusion Criteria

• Between 20-34 or 50-69 years
• Body mass index <34 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria

• Current smoker
• History or evidence of: hepatic disease, renal disease, hematological disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke/neurovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension
• Part of a vulnerable population (e.g. pregnant women, prisoner, individuals lacking capacity to consent, etc.)
• Older females only: subject is not post-menopausal

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Healthy young women	MRI	Healthy young women between the age of 20-34 years.
Healthy young women	TCD	Healthy young women between the age of 20-34 years.
Healthy older women	TCD	Healthy older women between the age of 50-64 years.
Healthy young men	MRI	Healthy young men between the age of 20-34 years.
Healthy young men	TCD	Healthy young men between the age of 20-34 years.
Healthy older men	MRI	Healthy older men between the age of 50-64 years.
Healthy older men	TCD	Healthy older men between the age of 50-64 years.
Healthy older women	MRI	Healthy older women between the age of 50-64 years.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Middle Cerebral Artery Blood Flow Measurement	75 minutes	Utilize the TCD and MR imaging to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow in the brain while the participant is at rest.
Middle Cerebral Artery Blood Flow Reactivity to Hypercapnia	75 minutes	Utilize the TCD and MR imaging to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow reactivity to hypercapnic gas.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Wisconsin-Madison; 🇺🇸 Madison, Wisconsin, United States