Cerebrovascular hemodynamics, gait, and falls in an elderly population: MOBILIZE Boston Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether alterations in cerebral blood flow regulation are associated with slow gait speed and falls in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 419 individuals from the MOBILIZE Boston Study (MBS) who had transcranial Doppler ultrasound measures of cerebral blood flow velocity. The MBS is a prospective cohort study of a unique set of risk factors for falls in seniors in the Boston area. We measured beat-to-beat blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery in response to 1) changes in end-tidal CO(2) (cerebral vasoreactivity) and 2) blood pressure changes during a sit-to-stand protocol (cerebral autoregulation). Gait speed was measured during a 4-meter walk. Falls were tracked by monthly calendars, and demograph

SUBMITTER: Sorond FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2875129 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature