Ischemic Conditioning to Promote Microvascular Resiliency in Frail Individuals

In elderly individuals the small blood vessels that regulate blood flow to organs and other tissues can become damaged when they are exposed to stress, which can lead to complications following stressful events like surgery. In this study we will examine how these blood vessels respond to the stress of high intensity exercise, and if a safe and simple intervention called ischemic conditioning can increase resiliency of these vessels.

Our previous work showed that conditioned athletes are protected from the stress of a single, high intensity exercise bout whereas non-athletes are not. Others have shown that elderly individuals have reduced large artery function following the high intensity exercise. This study will be the first to examine how the small blood vessels respond to this stress in the elderly. Participants will be asked to come in for 3 study visits.

Study Visit 1

• Complete assessments on frailty and physical function
• Complete an exercise test using either a total body recumbent stepper or a bicycle and pedal in a seated position

Study Visit 2

• Undergo a blood draw to measure plasma sphingolipids
• Have a CytoCam device take images of small vessels inside their mouth
• Be assessed by the Laser Doppler Flowmeter while small doses of a vasodilator called acetylcholine are infused into the skin and the local temperature increases
• Complete a high-intensity interval exercise on a bicycle or an elliptical machine
• Have a CytoCam device take images of small vessels inside their mouth
• Be assessed by the Laser Doppler Flowmeter while small doses of a vasodilator called acetylcholine are infused into the skin and the local temperature increases

Home-based Ischemic Conditioning

• Get a handheld sphygmomanometer and a blood pressure cuff to take home.
• Depending on which group the participants get randomized into, participants will place blood pressure cuff around non-dominant upper arm and inflate to either a low or high pressure.
• This intervention will be completed 5 times a day for 2 weeks

Visit 3

• Undergo a blood draw to measure plasma sphingolipids
• Have a CytoCam device take images of small vessels inside their mouth
• Be assessed by the Laser Doppler Flowmeter while small doses of a vasodilator called acetylcholine are infused into the skin and the local temperature increases
• Complete assessments on frailty and physical function
• Complete an exercise test using either a total body recumbent stepper or a bicycle and pedal in a seated position
• Complete a high-intensity interval exercise on a bicycle or an elliptical machine
• Have a CytoCam device take images of small vessels inside their mouth
• Be assessed by the Laser Doppler Flowmeter while small doses of a vasodilator called acetylcholine are infused into the skin and the local temperature increases

Inclusion criteria

• Women and men ages 65-85 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• Myocardial infarction in last 6 months
• morbid obesity (BMI >40)
• heart failure
• uncontrolled hypertension
• other condition that precludes high intensity exercise (ex, neurological disorder, acute systemic infection)
• history of blood clots in the extremities
• any condition in which compression of the arm or transient ischemia is contraindicated (e.g., wounds in the arm).