Age-related changes in carotid artery flow and pressure pulses : Possible implications for cerebral microvascular disease

We sought to establish the relation between the pulsatile components of pressure and flow waveforms in the carotid artery and their change with age. Distention (pressure) and axial flow velocity waveforms were recorded noninvasively and simultaneously from the common carotid artery of 56 healthy subjects aged 20 to 72 years. There was a close relation between the time intervals of pressure and flow waves: from foot to first shoulder or peak, to second shoulder or peak, and to incisura (r=0.97, P