| Paper | Paper Session 16 Program Schedule
02/16/2024
03:30 pm - 04:55 pm
Room: West Side Ballroom - Salon 4
Paper Session 16: Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disorders
Final Abstract #3
Older Adults with Smaller and Less Complex Social Networks Exhibit Deficits in Cerebrovascular Reactivity
Evelyn Chang, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
Arunima Kapoor, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
Shubir Dutt, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Jung Yun Jang, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
Yanrong Li, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
John Alitin, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Isabel Sible, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Aimée Gaubert, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Jean Ho, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
Anna Blanken, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Xingfeng Shao, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Danny Wang, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Daniel Nation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
Category: Stroke/Cerebrovascular Injury and Disease (Adult)
Keyword 1: hippocampus
Keyword 2: social processes
Keyword 3: stroke
Objective:
Social isolation is a risk factor for stroke and dementia, and smaller social network size and complexity has been associated with cognitive decline in older adults. However, few studies have examined cerebrovascular mechanisms underlying social isolation as a risk factor for stroke and cognitive decline. The current study aimed to investigate whether older adults with smaller social network size and complexity exhibit differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in regions implicated in both social cognition and cognitive decline (hippocampus, amygdala).
Participants and Methods:
Seventy-nine older adults (mean age 69.5, [7.1 SD]; age range 60-89; 63.3% female) with no history of stroke or dementia were recruited from the community. CBF and CVR were evaluated by pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) during rest and breathing tasks that induced hypocapnia (0.1 Hz paced breathing) and hypercapnia (15s breath hold). Social network size and complexity were measured using Cohen’s Social Network Index.
Results:
Multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for age and sex demonstrated significantly decreased hippocampal CVR to hypercapnia in older adults with social networks that were smaller (left: ß = 0.266, p = 0.006; right: ß = 0.204, p = 0.028) and less complex (left: ß = 1.623, p = 0.001; right: ß = 1.241, p = 0.008). Significantly lower CVR to hypercapnia was also observed in the right amygdala in those with less network complexity (ß = 0.994, p = 0.044). Neither resting CBF nor CVR to hypocapnia were related to social network parameters in either brain region.
Conclusions:
Results suggest that older adults with impoverished social lives exhibit deficits in cerebral vasodilatory response in the hippocampus and amygdala. These findings may shed light on cerebrovascular mechanisms underpinning increased risk for stroke and cognitive decline in socially isolated older adults. Future studies are warranted to improve our understanding of social network-related risk factors of cerebrovascular disease and dementia.
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