Arterial stiffness and β-amyloid progression in nondemented elderly adults

IMPORTANCE Recent studies show that cerebral β-amyloid (A?) deposition is associated with blood pressure and measures of arterial stiffness in nondemented individuals. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between measures of arterial stiffness and change in A? deposition over time. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Deposition of A?was determined in a longitudinal observational study of aging by positron emission tomography using the Pittsburgh compound B twice 2 years apart in 81 nondemented individuals 83 years and older. Arterial stiffness was measured with a noninvasive and automated waveform analyzer at the time closest to the second positron emission tomography scan. All measures were performed under standardized conditions. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in the central (carotid-femoral and heart-femoral PWV), peripheral (femoral-ankle PWV), and mixed (brachial-ankle PWV) vascular beds. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The change in A? deposition over 2 yearswas calculated from the 81 individuals with repeat A?-positron emission tomography. RESULTS The proportion of A?-positive individuals increased from 48%at baseline to 75%at follow-up. Brachial-ankle PWV was significantly higher among A?-positive participants at baseline and follow-up. Femoral-ankle PWV was only higher among A?-positive participants at follow-up. Measures of central stiffness and blood pressure were not associated with A? status at baseline or follow-up, but central stiffness was associated with a change in A? deposition over time. Each standard deviation increase in central stiffness (carotid-femoral PWV, P = .001; heart-femoral PWV, P = .004) was linked with increases in A? deposition over 2 years. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study showed that A? deposition increases with age in nondemented individuals and that arterial stiffness is strongly associated with the progressive deposition of A? in the brain, especially in this age group. The association between A? deposition changes over time and generalized arterial stiffness indicated a relationship between the severity of subclinical vascular disease and progressive cerebral A? deposition.