title: Vascular Factors and Cognitive Dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of vascular factors on the degree of intensity and rate of progression of cognitive disorders in the course of Alzheimer Disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The research group consisted of 39 persons, all of whom were diagnosed with AD according to the NINCDS/ADRDA criteria. We divided these patients into 2 subgroups, based on the vascular factors measured by the modified Hachinski Ischemic Scale (Ha-mod): group A, without the vascular component (HA-mod score of 0-1 point), and group B, with the vascular component (a score over 1 point). Cognitive functions were evaluated at baseline and again 2 years later, using the Cognitive Part of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the patients from subgroup B, with the stronger vascular component, demonstrated the highest intensity of cognitive disorders at baseline, both in terms of the overall ADAS-cog score, and in the subscores for ideational praxis, orientation, spoken language ability, comprehension of spoken language, and word-finding difficulty in spontaneous speech. Another variable which was connected with the intensity of dementia was age. After 2 years, however, the rate of progression of cognitive disorders was not significantly different between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of vascular factors correlates directly with the intensity of cognitive disturbances. At the 2-year follow-up examination, however, no correlation was observed in the research group between greater vascular involvement and more rapid progression of cognitive disorders, as measured by the ADAS-cog scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychology, Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski Cracow University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pąchalska
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychiatry, Psychotic Disorders and Advanced Age, Gdańsk Medical University, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bidzan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidzan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedagogics, Old Polish University, Kielce, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Góral-Półrola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*