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Scientific Posters


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PARTICIPANTS
Presenter
Feraz	Rahman	MS
Abstract Co-Author
Jeffrey	Smith	MD, PhD
Elizabeth	Bullitt	MD
Laurence	Katz	MD
Bonita	Marks	PhD

AWARDS
	Research and Education Foundation Support
SUBSPECIALTY CONTENT
	Magnetic Resonance Imaging
	Neuroradiology

	CODE: LL-NR2256-D03
	SESSION: Neuroradiology/Head and Neck
	Relationship of Exercise to Cerebral Vasculature and Blood Flow in Older Adults


	DATE:	Monday, December 01 2008
	START TIME:	12:15 PM
	END TIME:	01:15 PM
	LOCATION:	Lakeside Learning Center

	DISCLOSURES
	F.R.	- Nothing to disclose.
	J.S.	- Nothing to disclose.
	E.B.	- Potential license agreement, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc Potential license agreement, Kitware Inc
	L.K.	- Nothing to disclose.
	B.M.	- Nothing to disclose.

	PURPOSE
	Our brains undergo cognitive decline and physical changes with aging. Altered cerebral vasculature such as the narrowing and loss of small vessels may contribute. Exercise reverses small vessel disease elsewhere in the body and increases brain volume and cognitive function in the elderly. Previously, we reported that cerebral blood flow(CBF) in older adults is more variable in those who exercise less. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that there are less small cerebral arteries in that group. A secondary aim was to examine relationships between CBF and vasculature and how they are affected by exercise.
	METHOD AND MATERIALS
	Subjects: 12 healthy adults 60-76 years old underwent CBF and MR angiogram(MRA) scans. Over the last 10 years, 6 exercised over 3 hours/week(Active Group) and 6 less than 1 hr/wk(Inactive Group) in aerobic sports. MR Imaging: 3.0T MRI was used to acquire CBF scans(continuous arterial spin labeling, TR=4000,TE=16ms) and time of flight MR angiograms(TR=35,TE=3ms,voxels=0.5x0.5x0.8mm). Data Analysis: Vessels were segmented from MRA by software that extracts intensity ridges from user-defined seed points. Mean CBF for each major vascular distribution was calculated by Matlab software and correlated in the same region with average vessel radius(AVR), number, and tortuosity. Vessel radii were plotted as histograms and the 2 groups compared based on subsets of vessel size by 2-sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum.
	RESULTS
	A positive correlation existed between CBF and AVR in the Active Group(0.55,p<0.01). A negative correlation existed, however, in the Inactive Group(-0.62,p<0.01). The number of small vessels(AVR<0.35mm) was higher in the Active Group compared to the Inactive Group(mean ±standard deviation=211±45 vs. 161±29,p<0.05).
	CONCLUSION
	Inactive subjects had fewer cerebral small vessels than the active group. In active subjects, CBF positively correlates with AVR. In inactive subjects, however, the correlation is negative. These findings could be explained by greater small vessel loss in the Inactive Group. With fewer small vessels, the AVR in a given vascular tree increases along with vascular resistance leading to decreased CBF. supp. by R01EB000219NIH-NIBIB

	CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATION
	An aerobic exercise program may be a vital part of healthy aging by preventing the narrowing and loss of small cerebral blood vessels and consequent decrease in cerebral blood flow.

	QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS EVENT EMAIL:
	feraz.rahman@jefferson.edu