Leuko-araiosis and cerebral hypoperfusion compared in elderly normals and Alzheimer's dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the pathogenesis of leuko-araiosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease by utilizing CT densitometry of the brain and measurements of local perfusion in order to quantify the extent of leuko-araiosis and local hypoperfusion compared with similar measurements made among age-matched normal volunteers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional case-control study.


METHODS
Out-patient visits to a specialized laboratory located in a large hospital facility.


METHODS
Eighteen elderly patients with probable dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT, aged 71.8 +/- 5.1 years) and 17 neurologically and cognitively normal, age-matched volunteers (aged 68.2 +/- 9.6 years) were admitted to the study according to established criteria.


METHODS
None


METHODS
Cerebral blood flow (mL/100 g brain/min) estimated by the xenon inhalation CT-CBF method correlated with volume percentage ratio (%) measured by CT densitometry for leuko-araiosis, compared to normal white and gray matter.


RESULTS
Perfusion values for frontal and occipital white matter as well as frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortex were all decreased in DAT patients. Ratios for leuko-araiosis to total brain tissue volumes were greater among patients with DAT compared with age-matched normal volunteers. White matter perfusion in zones of leuko-araiosis was decreased to a similar degree in both DAT and elderly normal volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
Perfusion is reduced to the same degree in regions of leuko-araiosis in elderly normals as in DAT patients, but the extent of leuko-araiosis is greater among DAT patients and presumably contributes to cognitive impairments.
Kawamura
J
J
Cerebral Blood Flow Laboratory, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030.
Meyer
J S
JS
Terayama
Y
Y
Weathers
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001284:Atrophy; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014978:Xenon
D014978:Xenon