Metabolic and vascular aspects of the ageing brain correlated with age, gender, lifestyle and intelligence

Motivation: Metabolic aspects of brain ageing and normal functioning in the elderly, especially gender-specific, are still insufficiently understood. Lifestyle influences are thought important, but proper quantification of their effect is pending. Goal(s): To investigate correlations between metabolic function, age and lifestyle. Approach: Brain oxygen metabolism reflected by CMRO2 and OEF as well as circulatory aspects (CBF and venous blood fraction) are measured by MRI in an elderly cohort characterised by lifestyle and IQ information. Results: Gender-specific correlations between metabolism/circulation and age, lifestyle and IQ are found. Their differences suggest different adaptation mechanisms of men and women to the challenges of ageing. Impact: Metabolic and circulatory parameters of the ageing brain show correlations with gender and lifestyle, besides age. Gender differences, strongest in OEF, are attributed to effects of menopause and different adaptation mechanisms. We find correlations of IQ with metabolism and circulation.