title: Myocardial infarction in the differential diagnosis of dementias in the elderly.
abstract: The incidence of cerebral lesions in relation to myocardial infarction (MI) was evaluated on the basis of data obtained from medical records and autopsy reports on 269 psychogeriatric patients, in a 13-year retrospective study. Among 84 demented patients with MI, brain infarcts and hemorrhages were found in 42 percent, and Alzheimer's disease in 17 percent; (combination in 8 percent). In contrast, among 70 demented patients without MI, brain infarcts and hemorrhages were found in 11 percent, and Alzheimer's disease in 43 percent; (combination in 6 percent). Therefore, when it is difficult to differentiate senile dementia (Alzheimer's disease) from dementia due to cerebrovascular impairment, data on the presence or absence of myocardial infarction may prove useful.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies