Mechanisms underlying sex differences in brain aging remain unclear but may relate to changes in cerebral pulsatile blood flow. Sex differences in the stiffening of the large arteries and expansion of pulse pressure with age may accelerate changes in pulsatile (i.e., discontinuous) blood flow in the brain that contribute to brain health. The purpose of this cross-sectional, secondary analysis was to examine sex differences in age-associated changes in large artery (aorta and carotid) stiffness, carotid pulse pressure, and cerebral pulsatility in 206 men and 217 women between 18 and 72 yr of age. Outcomes included aortic stiffness [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)] and carotid pulse pressure via tonometry, carotid β-stiffness via ultrasound, and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index via transcranial Doppler. Regression analyses revealed a significant age-by-sex interaction, with women exhibiting a slower rate of change compared with men for cfPWV (β = -0.21, P = 0.04), and greater rate of change for carotid stiffness (β = 0.27, P = 0.02), carotid pulse pressure (β = 0.98, P < 0.001), and MCA pulsatility index (β = 0.49, P = 0.002) after adjustment for covariates. The significant age-by-sex interaction for MCA pulsatility was abolished after further adjustment for carotid pulse pressure. Women exhibit accelerated increases in cerebral pulsatility during midlife, likely driven by exaggerated increases in carotid stiffness and pulse pressure compared with men. These data suggest that there are disproportionate increases in cerebral pulsatility in women during midlife that could contribute to accelerated brain aging compared with men.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We identify sex-specific associations between increasing age and cerebral pulsatility and its vascular mechanisms. When compared with men, women in our cross-sectional analysis exhibited greater age-associated increases in carotid stiffness, carotid pulse pressure, and cerebral pulsatility particularly during midlife. These data suggest that the rapid expansion of pulse pressure during midlife contributes to an exaggerated increase in cerebral pulsatility among women and suggest a potential mechanism contributing to sex differences in brain aging.
Keywords: aging; cerebral pulsatility; large artery stiffness; midlife; sex differences.