1. Modulating heart rate oscillation affects plasma amyloid beta and tau levels in younger and older adults.
- Author
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Min, Jungwon, Rouanet, Jeremy, Martini, Alessandra Cadete, Nashiro, Kaoru, Yoo, Hyun Joo, Porat, Shai, Cho, Christine, Wan, Junxiang, Cole, Steve W, Head, Elizabeth, Nation, Daniel A, Thayer, Julian F, and Mather, Mara
- Subjects
Autonomic Nervous System ,Vagus Nerve ,Humans ,Alzheimer Disease ,tau Proteins ,Heart Rate ,Aged ,Amyloid beta-Peptides ,Biomarkers ,Brain Disorders ,Aging ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Dementia ,Neurosciences ,Neurodegenerative ,Acquired Cognitive Impairment ,Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) ,Alzheimer's Disease - Abstract
Slow paced breathing via heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback stimulates vagus-nerve pathways that counter noradrenergic stress and arousal pathways that can influence production and clearance of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related proteins. Thus, we examined whether HRV biofeedback intervention affects plasma Αβ40, Αβ42, total tau (tTau), and phosphorylated tau-181 (pTau-181) levels. We randomized healthy adults (N = 108) to use slow-paced breathing with HRV biofeedback to increase heart rate oscillations (Osc+) or to use personalized strategies with HRV biofeedback to decrease heart rate oscillations (Osc-). They practiced 20-40 min daily. Four weeks of practicing the Osc+ and Osc- conditions produced large effect size differences in change in plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels. The Osc+ condition decreased plasma Αβ while the Osc- condition increased Αβ. Decreases in Αβ were associated with decreases in gene transcription indicators of β-adrenergic signaling, linking effects to the noradrenergic system. There were also opposing effects of the Osc+ and Osc- interventions on tTau for younger adults and pTau-181 for older adults. These results provide novel data supporting a causal role of autonomic activity in modulating plasma AD-related biomarkers.Trial registration: NCT03458910 (ClinicalTrials.gov); first posted on 03/08/2018.
- Published
- 2023