The impact of age and sex on cerebral and large artery stiffness and the response to pulse pressure

Age-related increases in arterial stiffness and pulse pressure are associated with cerebrovascular dysfunction; yet sex differences in these factors remain unclear. We found that cerebral artery passive stiffness was greater with age, independent of sex. With exposure to acute pulse pressure, young, compliant female cerebral arteries had a more pronounced decline in endothelial function. Thus, females may be more susceptible to cerebrovascular dysfunction due to age-related increases in pulse pressure.