Hemodynamic changes during aging associated with cerebral blood flow and impaired cognitive function

This study investigates the age associated changes in hemorheological prope rties and cerebral blood flow. Partial correlations indicate that part of t he age-dependent decrease in flow velocities can be attributed to a hemorhe ological decrement resulting in part from enhanced oxidative stress in the aged. A possible link with Alzheimer's pathology is suggested by the augmen ted hemorheological impairment resulting from in vitro incubation of red ce lls with amyloids. These results suggest that in aging, oxidative stress as well as amyloids may influence the fluid properties of blood, resulting in a potential decrement in blood Row and oxygen delivery to the brain. Anima l intervention studies further demonstrate that altered hemorheological pro perties of blood can actually influence cognitive function. The relationshi ps shown to exist between hemorheology, blood flow, amyloids, oxidative str ess, and cognitive function suggest that these factors may be one of the me chanisms operating in the complex etiology of Alzheimer's disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.