Jill M. Wecht, EdD Associate Professor of Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine; the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Career Development 2; VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service This work was supported by the VA RR&D Service: Grants # B4162C and B4723H
I have no financial interest or relationships to disclose This work was supported by the VA RR&D Service: Grants # B4162C and B4723H
At the conclusion of this activity, the participant will be able to: A. Autonomic impairment in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis B. Cognitive impairments in spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis C. Possible association between autonomic impairment and cognitive impairments spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis
If you would like to receive CME credit for this activity, please visit: http://www.pesgce.com/pvasummit201 1/ This information can also be found in the Summit 2011 Program on page 8.
1. Sympathetic component 2. Vagal component 3. Baroreceptor reflex
Animal data: enhanced memory during activation of β-adrenergic systems (Cahill et al. 1998, 1994) Clinical data: significantly impaired verbal memory in elderly (Solomon 1983) and cognitively impaired (Gliebus 2007) individuals prescribed beta-blockers. Experimental evidence: Impaired memory with beta-blocker compared to placebo (Maheu, 2004; Cahill 1994). Epinephrine improves memory (Cahill 2003). Cahill et al. Trends Neurosci 1998. Maheu, et al. Behav Neurosci 2004. Cahill L& Alkire. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2003. Cahill et al. Nature 1994. Gliebus et al. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2007. Solomon et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1983.
Cross-sectional studies have consistently documented improved cognitive performance in individuals with higher levels of vagal tone. Infants (14-26 weeks of age) with higher heart rate variability (HRV) displayed increased attentional capacity compared to infants with low HRV School age children (3 rd -5 th grade) with higher vagal tone performed better on a sustained attention task Adults (18-34 years) Higher resting HRV was associated with better executive function Richards, Child Development 1987. Bornstein & Suess, Child Development 2000. Seuss, et al., Psychophysiology 1994. Hansen et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 1983.
1. Resting baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) is associated with improvements in cognitive task performance. 2. Cognitive elaboration is associated with reliable reductions in BRS. 3. The relationship between BRS and cognition may be in part modulated by tonic BP: the relationship between success ratio and BRS appears to be inverse in relatively higher BP and positive in persons with relatively lower BP. Yasumasu et al. Psychophysiology; 2006; Duschek et al. Biological Psychology; 2009; Del Paso et al. Psychophysiology; 2009.
Spinal Cord Injury
Although AIS level and completeness of SCI may not relate to the degree of autonomic impairment, we distinguish the model of tetraplegia from paraplegia to document the degree of autonomic dysfunction. Alexander et al., 2009; Claydon & Krassioukov et al., 2006; Krassioukov 2007 & 2009.
TETRAPLEGIA C1-C8 Absolute low levels of plasma catecholamine concentrations: Resting Head-up tilt Maximal exercise Absent or diminished sympathetic skin responses (SSR): Palmer Plantar PARAPLEGIA T1 & BELOW Plasma catecholamine concentrations vary by level of lesion: T1-T5 low NE T6 & below high NE Variable SSR in hand Diminished or absent SSR in the foot Claydon & Krassioukov J Neurotrauma 2006; Schmid. Journal of Applied Physiology 1998; Guttmann et al. Paraplegia 1960
(msec 2 /Hz) 6 Several recent papers have made a 5 strong argument that the LF 4 component 3 of heart rate variability 2 Isometric reflects baroreflex function and not Cold Pressor 1 cardiac sympathetic activity. HUT 0 Supine non-sci Paraplegia Tetraplegia Moak, et al. Heart Rhythm 2007; Moak, et al. Cleve Clin J Med 2009; Rahman, et al. Clin Auto Res. 2011 Grimm et al. Am J Physiol. 1997
Delta HR (bpm) 25 20 15 r 2 =0.63; p<0.05 Tetraplegia Paraplegia non-sci 10 5 0-5 -10-2.5-2 -1.5-1 -.5 0.5 1 1.5 Wecht et al. Clinical Auto Res. 2006 Delta HF (ln)
Heart Rate (bpm) Vagal Activity (HFln) Wecht et al. Clinical Auto Res. 2009
Spinal Cord Injury
Bradycardia - 50 bpm Diagnosis? Empirical evidence 15% Persistent hypotension W.H.O. definition SBP males 110 mmhg & females 100 mmhg Diagnosis 30% Empirical evidence 70% Orthostatic hypotension - AAS and AAN definition 20 mmhg SBP and/or 10 mmhg DBP Diagnosis 3% Empirical evidence 21% Autonomic dysreflexia - 20 mmhg in SBP and/or 10 mmhg in DBP Diagnosis 10% Empirical evidence (urodynamic testing) 79% Hypertension - SBP 139 and/or DBP 90 mmhg Diagnosis 29% Empirical evidence 24% (systolic hypertension)
Elevated heart rate - 90 bpm Diagnosis? Empirical evidence 53% (more than 50% of the day above 90 bpm) Persistent hypotension Diagnosis 42% Empirical evidence 21% Orthostatic hypotension Diagnosis 1% Empirical evidence (HP-21%) Autonomic dysreflexia Diagnosis 1% Empirical evidence (urodynamic testing) 58% Hypertension Diagnosis 42% Empirical evidence 43% (systolic hypertension)
p<0.01 Orthostatic hypotension?
50% of the subjects with tetraplegia had a SBP at or BELOW 85 mmhg
Male hypotension Female hypotension * Females with tetraplegia Males with tetraplegia
HOWEVER:
Pilgrim, et al. Bmj 1992; Rosengren, et al. Bmj 1993; Wessely, et al. Bmj 1990 ; Barrett-Connor & Palinkas. Bmj 1994.
Costa, et al. Psychophysiology 1998; Duschek, et al. Hypertens Res. 2008; Duschek, et al. Behav Med 2005; Duschek, et al. Biol Psychol 2009; Duschek & Schandry Psychophysiology 2004; Duschek & Schandry. Clin Auton Res 2007; Duschek et al. Clin Auton Res 2003; Morris, et al. Neuroepidemiology 2002; Weisz, et al. Int J Psychophysiol 2002.
It has been reported that between 10 & 60% of the SCI population have cognitive deficits in areas of processing speed, attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility Most reports suggest that the cognitive deficits are related to concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or pre-morbid conditions Davidoff et al. 1992; Dowler et al. 1995; Dowler et al. 1997; Murray et al. 2007.
24-hour Systolic Blood Pressure 1. Males with Female an #(%) Average 24-hour 0 SBP below 1(11) 110 mmhg DOI (y) 16 10 18 13 2. Females with AIS A #(%) an Average 9(82) 24-hour SBP below 9(100) 100 mmhg BDI 5.46 5.47 * 0.64 3.67 3. For at least 50% of the 24-hour period 4. Compared to a normotensive (SBP 110/100 mmhg) group with SCI Jegede, et al. Clin Auto Res; 2010 Hypotensive (n=11) Normotensive (n=9) Age (y) 39 8 46 10 Lesion Level C 4 - T 4 C 4 - T 11 Level of education (years) 15 3 15 4 pre-morbid IQ 103 14 103 13 measured IQ 91 20 98 8 Tetraplegia #(%) 9(82) χ2 4(44) Positive History of TBI #(%) 5(45) 4(44)
Hypothesis: Compare blood pressure (BP), cerebral blood flow (CBF) during cognitive Low testing blood in individuals pressure with would tetraplegia, paraplegia and non-sci controls. contribute to cerebral hypoperfusion during testing and Determine the influence of systemic and cerebral hemodynamic function on cognitive performance in these groups. poor cognitive performance in the tetraplegic group compared to the non-sci and paraplegic groups.
non-sci Paraplegia T2-10 Tetraplegia C4-8 (n=16) (n=6) (n=7) IQ measured 104 13 103 7 95 16 Level of education (y) 17 4 15 3 14 4 CVLT memory (t-score) 49 7 50 9 46 6 Beck s Depression Inventory 4.8 4.7 4.5 3.5 3.7 4.8 The Stroop Task is a neuropsychological test of attention and cognitive flexibility; the cognitive mechanisms involved in this task is processing speed and directed attention. Stroop word (t-score) 41 11 33 7 41 9 Stroop color (t-score) 42 9 34 5 * 38 4 Stroop color-word (t-score) 45 7 40 5 41 7
Paraplegia: 89% < non-sci Tetraplegia: 62% < non-sci
Inadequate or inappropriate systemic and non-sci controls cerebral vascular responses to cognitive R 2 =0.335; p=0.0187 testing differs between individuals with tetraplegia and paraplegia: However systemic and cerebral dysfunction may play a role; surprisingly, non-sci regardless paraplegia of the level of lesion. * tetraplegia
T7-T12 Persistently elevated heart rate T2-T5 may C4-C8 predispose individuals to increased arterial stiffening, with adverse cognitive consequences as reported in the non-sci literature Chen, et al. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2008; Dahle, et al. Psychol Aging 2009; Palatini, Parati. J Hypertens 2010; Pase, et al. J Hypertens 2010; Waldstein, et al. Hypertension 2008.
In SCI: we & others have demonstrated: 1. heart Arterial rate Stiffness in Persons with Paraplegia arterial stiffness & 2. Pulse Wave Velocity for Assessment of cognitive function Arterial Stiffness among People with Spinal But Cord we do Injury: not know A Pilot if associations Study made in the non-sci literature apply to the SCI population. heart rate arterial stiffness cognitive impairment? Wecht et al. J Rehab Res & Dev 2004; Miyatani et al. J Spinal Cord Med. 2009
Multiple Sclerosis
Standard Tests Autonomic responses to standard tests were Vagal: 25% compared Sympathetic vasomotor: 5% 20 MS patients (duration 9 years; EDSS 4.2 [1.7-7.0]) SSR: 75% 20 matched controls Normative data Spectral Analysis - 13 of 20 (65%) patients Autonomic presented with tests: pathological response to at least Heart 1 rate parameter; during deep of breathing those: (HR DB ) Change Vagal: 46% in systolic blood pressure during tilt (SBPch) SSR Sympathetic from magnetic vasomotor: neck stimulation 10% Heart Baroreceptor rate response reflex: to 35% SBPch (BRS)
Diminished or absent SSR amplitudes 45-75% Delayed responses 5-10% Impaired sympathetic vasomotor responses to head-up tilt SBP frequency amplitudes 5-25% cerebral blood flow velocities during tilt Vagal impairment heart rate responses to deep breathing 18-40% Yokota, et al. Brain; 1991; Linden et al. J Neurology; 1995; Flachenecker J Neurology; 1995
Diminished heart rate responses (18-40%) Vagal impairment Orthostasis Deep breathing Orthostatic intolerance (24-50%) Vasomotor pathology Baroreceptor reflex dysfunction (28-42%) Cardio-vagal Sympathetic vasomotor Sakakibara et al. Clinical Auto Res. 1997; Sanya et al. Clinical Auto Res. 2005; Flachenecker et al. J Neurology; 1999; Vita et al. J Neurol Soc. 1993.
Lesion site Autonomic dysfunction related to brainstem lesions by MRI (p<0.005) lack of postural hypotension, normal responses to the Valsalva maneuver and abnormal BP response to mental stimulation suggest central autonomic impairment Progression and severity of the disease varies among the studies. Thomaides, et al. J Neurol. 1993; Vita, et al. J Neurol Soc. 1993.
Approximately 50-70% of individuals with MS are reported to have deficiencies in: Episodic memory Working memory Sustained attention Verbal fluency, Processing speed Information processing Executive function Visual spatial skills Heesen, at al. Multiple Sclerosis 2005; Kalmar, et a;. Neuropsychology. 2008; Valentine, et al. Multiple Sclerosis; 2009; Nocentini et al. Multiple Sclerosis; 2006.
461 patients with RRMS Demographics EDSS Duration AI FSS Depression These authors concluded: r p r p r p r p r p Age = 36±8 years Education = 11±4 years Disease duration range = 75 months (24-210 = 10 th :90 th %) EDSS = 2.6±1.3 AI range = 1.0 (0-3 = 10 th :90 th %) FSS = 32±17 Becks depression index = 9.0 (range 0-59) Verbal memory -0.19.000 --- NS -0.24.000-0.16.000-0.19.000 Clinical indices centered around Visual memory -0.21.000 --- NS -0.30.000-0.11.021-0.20.000 motor disability (AI) may mirror Visual perception -0.16.000 --- NS -0.71.000-0.11.016-0.19.000 cognitive impairments; however Processing speed -0.25.000-0.10.03-0.23.000 --- NS -0.15.001 Executive function --- NS --- NS --- NS 0.13.006 --- NS this may be due to the large language --- NS --- NS -0.13.012 --- NS -0.13.001 Correlated cognitive test scores with clinical features sample size or selection bias General intelligence -0.16.001 --- NS -0.20.000 --- NS -0.22.000 EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale; AI = ambulation Index; FSS = Fatigue Severity Scale
Heart Rate (bpm) 84 82 80 78 76 74 72 70 68 66 64 MS rest CONTROL cognitive testing Diminished heart rate response to cognitive testing in persons with MS compared to matched controls. Examined heart rate reactivity during cognitive testing in 25 RRMS (EDSS=2.6 and duration of disease 10 The change in HR from rest to cognitive testing was inversely associated with fatigue score (r= -0.39; p=0.01). years) compared to 25 matched control subjects. However they only tested individuals with MS and fatigue so cannot determine the effect of MS; per se, on heart rate responses to cognitive testing. Sympathetic nervous system might mediate the stress response.
Evidence suggests that autonomic impairment of either sympathetic, vagal or baroreceptor reflex function may contribute to cognitive deficits. Our findings in SCI support a possible association between autonomic impairment and cognitive deficits. Associations specifically related to de-centralized cardiovascular autonomic control and hemodynamic changes in systemic and cerebral circulation. IMPORTANT! Models of high paraplegia (T1-T6), low paraplegia (T7 and below) and tetraplegia (cervical) manifest different pathophysiological changes and should be examined as distinctly different groups.
Data are not available to support a possible link between autonomic impairment and cognitive deficits in the MS population. Although cognitive deficits in autonomic dysfunction and cardiovascular insufficiencies at rest and during provocations are evident. Findings in the SCI and general population linking autonomic impairment and cognitive deficits may apply to the MS population.
Dr. Bauman Dr. Ann Spungen Dr. Rosado-Rivera Dr. Jegede Dr. Kirshblum Christina Yen, BS Christopher Renzi, MS Christopher Cirnigliaro, MS Marley Jensen, MS