Neuroelectric Indices Of Inhibitory Control Are Related To Arterial Stiffness In Healthy Adults

The prevalence of obesity has increased over the past decade, with nearly half of U.S. adults predicted to be affected. Alongside excess adiposity, other physiological factors, such as arterial stiffness, may contribute to cognitive impairments but remain poorly understood. PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between arterial stiffness and inhibitory control in a healthy adult population. METHODS: Arterial stiffness was assessed in a cross-sectional sample of 66 adults (Mage: 39.4 ± 17.0 years) via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (average cfPWV; 6.41 ± 1.23 m/s) using applanation tonometry. Behavioral and neuroelectric indices of inhibitory control were assessed using the modified Eriksen flanker, Go, and NoGo paradigms. Neuroelectric activity was recorded during all three paradigms, with a specific focus on the P3 and N2 event related potential (ERP) components. The relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive outcomes of attentional and response inhibition were analyzed with stepwise linear regression modeling, while controlling for age, sex, education level, and body fat percentage. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, higher cfPWV was significantly associated with poorer attentional inhibition, as shown by delayed P3 peak latency in the incongruent condition of the modified flanker task (β = 0.04, R2 = 0.25, p = 0.04). Higher cfPWV was also linked to reduced response inhibition, with significant associations observed in N2 amplitude modulations during the Go task, including N2 mean amplitude (β = 0.306, R2 = 0.36, p = 0.04) and N2 peak amplitude (β = 0.330, R2 = 0.16, p = 0.03). Additionally, average cfPWV was significantly associated with N2 mean amplitude modulation for the NoGo task (β = 0.229, R2 = 0.18, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the complex relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive function. Aside from aging and adiposity, the reduction in the elasticity of arterial walls and other pulsatile hemodynamics, for instance peripheral pulse pressure may reduce cerebral blood flow perfusion. Further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms linking pulse wave velocity to cognitive functioning.