Abstract
Background: Hispanics are at least 1.5 times more likely at any age past 55 years to have mild cognitive impairment and manifest dementia symptoms 7 years earlier than non-Hispanic Caucasians. Regional cerebral hypoperfusion has been implicated as an initial event in the pathogenesis of dementia. Aim: To compare cerebral perfusion in brain regions known to be susceptible to vascular related hypoperfusion in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Caucasian adults. Methods: Apparently healthy middle-aged Hispanic (n=16) and non-Hispanic Caucasian (n=16) subjects were matched across age, gender, years of education, and cognitive status. Arterial spin labeled perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) estimated cerebral blood flow in a priori brain regions of interest. Results: Mean cerebral perfusion was significantly lower in the Hispanic cohort than matched non-Hispanic Caucasian peers in the right (38±32 vs. 76±22 ml/100 g/min, p=0.005) and left centrum semiovale (39±32 vs. 72±31 ml/100 g/min, p=0.047). These differences remained significant even after controlling for blood pressure (p<0.05). Conclusions: Middle-aged Hispanic adults demonstrated significantly reduced cerebral perfusion to the right and left centrum semiovale compared with matched non-Hispanic Caucasian peers. Hypoperfusion in these white matter regions may contribute to cerebrovascular changes that could lead to early cognitive declines with aging in the Hispanic population.
Recommended Citation
Pasha, Evan P.; Tarumi, Takashi; Gonzales, Mitzi M.; Pearman, Miriam E.; Haley, Andrean P.; and Tanaka, Hirofumi
(2015)
"Reduced Regional Cerebral White Matter Perfusion in Middle-Aged Hispanic Adults,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
7, Article 80.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss7/80