Intracranial compliance is influenced by sex in older adults

The intracranial arterial pulse wave could be recorded by measuring skull deformation behavior, called noninvasive intracranial compliance (NICC). Its measurement is particularly beneficial for older adults due to the aging-associated vascular stiffening. However, data are scarce regarding NICC in older adults and potential differences between older men and women. This observational and transversal study aimed to investigate NICC data from community-dwelling older adults, comparing NICC values by sex. One hundred and eighty-seven participants (111 women) underwent a 10-minute NICC recording. Measurements included time to peak and the P2/P1 ratio. Anthropometric data, medical history related to diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension, and medication usage were recorded. Between-sex comparisons were performed through a linear mixed model. Results indicated a high P2/P1 ratio (1.24 ± 0.25). Older women demonstrated a significantly higher P2/P1 ratio than older men. These findings highlight the relevance of ambulatory monitoring of aging-associated vascular stiffening, especially among older women.