Association between chronological age and vascular function in adults with and without multiple sclerosis

Noah G DuBose; Sydney R DeJonge; Trevor B Martin; Petra Šilić; Ariel Kidwell-Chandler; Bo Fernhall; Lara A Pilutti; Robert W Motl

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2026.106997

Association between chronological age and vascular function in adults with and without multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2026 Mar:107:106997. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2026.106997. Epub 2026 Jan 13.

Authors

Noah G DuBose¹, Sydney R DeJonge², Trevor B Martin², Petra Šilić², Ariel Kidwell-Chandler², Bo Fernhall³, Lara A Pilutti⁴, Robert W Motl²

Affiliations

¹ Integrative Physiology Laboratory, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: ndubos3@uic.edu.
² Integrative Physiology Laboratory, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
³ Integrative Physiology Laboratory, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

PMID: 41548513
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2026.106997

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with vascular comorbidity that increases with age. Vascular function (VF) is associated with vascular comorbidity and outcomes such as cognition, fatigue, and disability in MS. Age predicts VF in the general population, yet this relationship is unknown in MS.

Objectives/methods: This study compared MS (n=129) and controls (n=51) based on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and heart rate-corrected augmentation index (AIx75) and examined age as a predictor of PWV and AIx75.

Results: The samples did not differ based on age, sex or body mass index (BMI). PWV was higher in MS than controls (7.2 m/s vs. 6.6 m/s), whereas AIx75 was not different (21.3 % vs. 18.7 %). Regression analysis indicated that after controlling for BMI and mean arterial pressure (MAP), age remained a significant predictor of PWV only in MS (β = 0.256, p<0.01). After controlling for sex, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores, disease duration, and MAP, age remained a significant predictor of AIx75 in MS (β = 0.371, p<0.01), as well as in controls after controlling for sex, BMI, and MAP (β = 0.347, p<0.01).

Conclusions: These results suggest that age predicts VF in MS and establish the need for future research that examines VF across the lifespan in MS.

Keywords: Aging; Arterial stiffness; Multiple sclerosis; Pulse wave velocity; Vascular function.

MeSH terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aging* / physiology
Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis* / epidemiology
Multiple Sclerosis* / physiopathology
Pulse Wave Analysis
Vascular Stiffness* / physiology