Decreased cutaneous vasodilatation to isometric handgrip exercise in Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous active vasodilatation is a cholinergic nerve mediated function of the sympathetic nervous system and the disturbed function of cholinergic neurotransmission is known as a prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
To assess this relationship, skin blood flow (SkBF) and other haemodynamic parameters were determined by a simple vasodilatory test, isometric handgrip exercise (IHG), in 22 late-onset sporadic type AD and 20 aged control persons (AC).


RESULTS
Significantly higher cutaneous vascular resistance and decreased SkBF were found after the stimulus in the AD group. A smaller reduction (p < 0.03) of R wave intervals on the electrocardiogram was observed in the AD group compared to the AC one. After IHG, change in systolic blood pressure was less in the AD (p < 0.01) than in the AC group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that autonomic dysfunction affecting active vasodilator sympathetic, as well as parasympathetic functions is present in AD.
Kálmán
János
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Hungary. jkalman@nepsy.szote.u-szeged.hu
Szakács
Réka
R
Török
Tamás
T
Rózsa
Zsuzsa
Z
Barzó
Pál
P
Rudas
László
L
Papp
J Gy
JG
Janka
Zoltán
Z
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014664:Vasodilation