Cerebral hemodynamics and the aging brain REVIEW

Aging is associated with a number of degenerative changes in the structure and function of blood vessels. Recent studies have examined the impact of age on cerebral hemodynamics and brain structure and function. These studies have shown age related changes in resting cerebral blood flow, cerebral vasoreactivity, cerebral autoregulation, and neurovascular coupling. Studies have also shown that aging is associated with cortical atrophy and cerebral white matter injury. More recent studies have also examined the relationship between age related cerebral hemodynamics and brain structure and function. Cross-sectional studies have shown that both cerebral vasoreactivity and pulsatility index are associated with cerebral white matter injury. Similarly, cerebral vasoreactivity has also been associated with impaired mobility which is known to be a clinical consequence of cerebral white matter injury in the elderly people. Neurovascular coupling has also been associated with slow gait and impaired executive function.