Cortical thinning is associated with brain pulsatility in older adults: An MRI and NIRS study

•Shorter cerebral systolic peak timing is associated with cortical thinning in older adults.•Cerebral systolic peak timing could not be predicted from its peripheral indices such as pulse plethysmography systolic peak timing.•Higher latency between systolic peak timing of total arterial blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid is correlated with cortical thinning in older adults.