Functional activity of the brain among elderly women with different autonomic tones in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation

AIM: To identify the distinctive features of brain activity based on the distribution of DC-potential levels among elderly women across different autonomic tones in the Russian Arctic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 121 6074 years old women permanently living in Arctic Russia participated in a cross-sectional study. Differences in the indicators of DC-potential levels were measured in three groups of elderly women with different levels of autonomic tone, namely, in vagotonics, normotonics and sympathotonics. Registration of the DC-potential levels of the brain was carried out using a 12-channel Neuro-KM diagnostic equipment. The assessment of the autonomic regulation of the heart rate was carried out using the VNS-spectrum equipment. RESULTS: Greater total and average indicators of DC-potential distribution were observed in the sympathotonic group compared with the two other groups. For all monopolar leads, a clear trend towards an increase in neuroenergometabolism of the brain in elderly women with predominant activity of the sympathetic part of the ANS was observed. The dome-shaped principle was violated in both sympathotonics and vagotonics. In the group of normotonics and vagotonics, the leading factors were the functional activity of the central and frontal regions of the brain, while in the group of sympathotonics, the greatest proportion was determined by the factors regulating brain activity of the right temporal and frontal regions. CONCLUSION: The study of the functional activity of the brain in elderly women with different autonomic tones demonstrates the presence of specific changes in the distribution of values of the constant potential level, which may indicate some change in the mechanisms characterizing the state of cerebral energy exchange. The most pronounced changes were observed in women with the sympathotonic type of ANS, which may characterize the processes of incomplete adaptation.