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Pulse wave velocity is associated with β-amyloid deposition in the brains of very elderly adults
Hughes TM, Kuller LH, Barinas-Mitchell EJ, Mackey RH, McDade EM, Klunk WE, Aizenstein HJ, Cohen AD et al.. Neurology, 2013-10-16
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective To determine arterial stiffness and β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain of dementia-free older adults. Methods We studied a cohort of 91 dementia-free participants aged 83-96 years. In 2009, participants completed brain MRI and PET imaging using Pittsburgh compound B (PiB; a marker of amyloid plaques in human brain). In 2011, we measured resting blood pressure (BP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the central, peripheral, and mixed (e.g., brachial ankle PWV [baPWV]) vascular beds, using a noninvasive and automated waveform analyzer. Results A total of 44/91 subjects were Aβ-positive on PET scan. Aβ deposition was associated with mixed PWV, systolic BP, and MAP. One SD increase in baPWV resulted in a 2-fold increase in the odds of being Aβ-positive (p = 0.007). High white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden was associated with increased central PWV, systolic BP, and MAP. Compared to Aβ-negative individuals with low WMH burden, each SD increase in PWV was associated with a 2-fold to 4-fold increase in the odds of being Aβ-positive and having high WMH. Conclusions Arterial stiffness was associated with Aβ plaque deposition in the brain, independent of BP and APOE ε4 allele. The associations differed by type of brain abnormality and vascular bed measured (e.g., WMH with central stiffness and Aβ deposition and mixed stiffness). Arterial stiffness was highest in individuals with both high Aβ deposition and WMH, which has been suggested to be a "double hit" contributing to the development of symptomatic dementia.
Key findings
- Results A total of 44/91 subjects were Aβ-positive on PET scan.
- Aβ deposition was associated with mixed PWV, systolic BP, and MAP.
- High white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden was associated with increased central PWV, systolic BP, and MAP.
- Compared to Aβ-negative individuals with low WMH burden, each SD increase in PWV was associated with a 2-fold to 4-fold increase in the odds of being Aβ-positive and having high WMH.
- Conclusions Arterial stiffness was associated with Aβ plaque deposition in the brain, independent of BP and APOE ε4 allele.
Why it matters
In dementia-free very elderly adults, greater arterial stiffness was associated with having amyloid plaques in the brain, independent of blood pressure and APOE ε4. This is an observational association and does not show that reducing arterial stiffness would treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants91
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 68/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 91 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 192 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.8 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 36 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Oscar L. López: h-index 126 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Pittsburgh: institution h-index 1,470 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | PubMed indexes it as a multicentre study |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24132374) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 68 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000435301.64776.37
- PubMed: 24132374
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hughes, T. M., Kuller, L. H., Barinas-Mitchell, E. J., Mackey, R. H., McDade, E. M., Klunk, W. E., et al. (2013). Pulse wave velocity is associated with β-amyloid deposition in the brains of very elderly adults. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000435301.64776.37
Vancouver
Hughes TM, Kuller LH, Barinas-Mitchell EJ, Mackey RH, McDade EM, Klunk WE, et al. Pulse wave velocity is associated with β-amyloid deposition in the brains of very elderly adults. Neurology. 2013. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000435301.64776.37. PMID: 24132374.
BibTeX
@article{hughes2013-24132374,
author = {Hughes, T. M. and Kuller, L. H. and Barinas-Mitchell, E. J. and Mackey, R. H. and McDade, E. M. and Klunk, W. E. and Aizenstein, H. J. and Cohen, A. D. and others},
title = {{Pulse wave velocity is associated with β-amyloid deposition in the brains of very elderly adults}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000435301.64776.37},
pmid = {24132374},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000435301.64776.37}
}
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