title: Altered diastolic function and aortic stiffness in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is closely linked to cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiographic studies were performed, including left ventricular diastolic functions, left and right atrial conduction times, and arterial stiffness parameters, namely stiffness index, pressure-strain elastic modulus, and distensibility, on 29 patients with AD and 24 age-matched individuals with normal cognitive function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The peak mitral flow velocity of the early rapid filling wave (E) was lower, and the peak velocity of the late filling wave caused by atrial contraction (A), deceleration time of peak E velocity, and isovolumetric relaxation time were higher in the AD group. The early myocardial peak (Ea) velocity was significantly lower in AD patients, whereas the late diastolic (Aa) velocity and E/Ea ratio were similar between the two groups. In Alzheimer patients, stiffness index and pressure-strain elastic modulus were higher, and distensibility was significantly lower in the AD group compared to the control. Interatrial electromechanical delay was significantly longer in the AD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that patients with AD are more likely to have diastolic dysfunction, higher atrial conduction times, and increased arterial stiffness compared to the controls of same sex and similar age.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Yozgat State Hospital, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors: Ali Nazmi
authors: AN
authors: Çalık
authors: Department of Cardiology, Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors: Kazım Serhan
authors: KS
authors: Özcan
authors: Department of Neurology, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Gülbün
authors: G
authors: Yüksel
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Barısş
authors: B
authors: Güngör
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Emre
authors: E
authors: Aruğarslan
authors: Department of Neurology, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Figen
authors: F
authors: Varlibas
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Ekmekci
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Damirbek
authors: D
authors: Osmonov
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa Adem
authors: MA
authors: Tatlısu
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Karaca
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Bolca
authors: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: İzzet
authors: İ
authors: Erdinler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000503:physiopathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: atrial conduction time; diastolic dysfunction