Elevated cerebral pulsatility index was positively associated with greater white matter hyperintensities, with female-specific relationships emerging in the anterior circulation in middle age.
Cross-Sectional (n=403)
No
Does biological sex influence the relationship between cerebral pulsatility and white matter hyperintensities in aging adults?
Biological sex influences the timing and regional distribution of the relationship between cerebral pulsatility and white matter hyperintensities, potentially contributing to the higher prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in females.
Effect estimate: β = 0.36
p-value: p=<0.001
The vascular mechanisms underlying the elevated prevalence of Alzheimer's disease among females remain unclear. In this study, we found that positive relationships between cerebral pulsatility in the anterior circulation and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) emerged in females in middle age but not until older adulthood in males. In addition, female-specific relationships were present between cerebral pulsatility in the posterior circulation and WMH in older adults.
Moir et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cognitively unimpaired aging adults (n=403). Cerebral pulsatility index (PI) was evaluated on Association between left internal carotid artery pulsatility index and white matter hyperintensities (β = 0.36, p=<0.001). Elevated cerebral pulsatility index was positively associated with greater white matter hyperintensities, with female-specific relationships emerging in the anterior circulation in middle age.