The effect of posture on the age dependence of neurovascular coupling.

Previous studies report contradicting age-related neurovascular coupling (NVC). Few studies assess postural effects, but less investigate relationships between age and NVC within different postures. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of age on NVC in different postures with varying cognitive stimuli. Beat-to-beat blood pressure, heart rate and end-tidal carbon dioxide were assessed alongside middle and posterior cerebral artery velocities (MCAv and PCAv, respectively) using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in 78 participants (31 young-, 23 middle- and 24 older-aged) with visuospatial (VST) and attention tasks (AT) in various postures at two timepoints (T2 and T3). Between-group significance testing utilized one-way analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) (Tukey post-hoc). Mixed three-way/one-way ANOVAs explored task, posture, and age interactions. Significant effects of posture on NVC were driven by a 3.8% increase from seated to supine. For AT, mean supine %MCAv increase was greatest in younger (5.44%) versus middle (0.12%) and older-age (0.09%) at T3 (p = 0.005). For VST, mean supine %PCAv increase was greatest at T2 and T3 in middle (10.99%/10.12%) and older-age (17.36%/17.26%) versus younger (9.44%/8.89%) (p = 0.004/p = 0.002). We identified significant age-related NVC effects with VST-induced hyperactivation. This may reflect age-related compensatory processes in supine. Further work is required, using complex stimuli while standing/walking, examining NVC, aging and falls.

Early detection and treatment of attention deficits in preterm and at term infants with risk factors for brain damage.

Cognitive deficits in infants born preterm and infants at term with risk factors for brain damage are a common outcome. Attention deficits in preterm infants are related to the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and therefore, there is a need for earlier evaluations and treatment procedures that are implemented before the presence of signs of ADHD. METHODS: We studied preterm (74%) and term infants with the Infant Scale of Selective Attention (ISSA, Escala de Evaluación de la Atención Selectiva (EEAS), in Spanish). This scale evaluates both visual- and auditory-orienting attention. Two groups participated, one with attention deficits (n = 26) and another with regular performance (n = 36). An early attention-stimulation program (EASP) was implemented in the infant group with attention deficits from three to eight months of age. All infants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and visual and auditory evoked responses were assessed. RESULTS: All infants had prenatal and perinatal risk factors for brain damage and abnormal MRI findings, and the majority had abnormalities compatible with white matter injury. However, there were four infants with porencephalic cysts; 3 of them were in the treated group. At the beginning of the treatment, ISSA values showed differences between groups. These differences persisted for five months in the visual test and up to the sixth month in the auditory evaluation. Afterward, there were no significant differences, indicating that infants with attention deficits had satisfactorily responded to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The ISSA is helpful for the early evaluation of visual and auditory attention. Infants with attention deficits react well enough after six months of EASP.