Abstract #0783

Paradoxically Reduced Cerebral Vascular Reactivity in Masters Athletes

Binu P. Thomas^1,2, Uma Sreekumar Yezhuvath¹, Rong Zhang^3,4, Benjamin Yichen Tseng^3,4, Benjamin Levine^3,4, Hanzhang Lu^1,5

¹Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; ²Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/University of Texas at Arlington, TX, USA; ³Institute for Exercise & Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, TX, USA; ⁴Internal Medicine-Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; ⁵Biomedical Engineering , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/University of Texas at Arlington, TX, USA

This study examines benefits of long term physical exercise on brain vasculature. 10 Masters Athletes (MA) (age=755.8) and 10 sedentary elders (age=755.6) were recruited. Cerebral vascular reactivity (CVR) and baseline cerebral blood flow were measured on a 3T. CVR is the ability of vasculature to respond to CO2 which indicates vascular elasticity. MA paradoxically show lower CVR compared to SED in frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes and cerebellum. Baseline CBF is increased in MA in posterior cingulate/precuneus which is a node in the default mode network indicating a protection from age related reduction in vascular function in these regions.