Abstract
Arterial beta stiffness index is a potential risk factor for increased stroke occurrence.
Vascular component appears to be significant in both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and
vascular dementia (VAD). We aimed to further explore vascular characteristics of patients
with both types of cognitive decline using non-invasive neurosonological methods.
There were 38 patients; 16 diagnosed with AD and 22 with VAD. Vascular risk factors
were assessed and ultrasound measurements on common carotid artery (CCA) were performed
using Aloka ProSound ALPHA 10 with 13 MHz linear probe.
Among AD patients there were 5 with arterial hypertension (AH), 3 with atrial fibrillation
(AF), 2 with diabetes mellitus (DM), 6 with hyper lipidemia and 1 smoker. Nineteen
VAD patients had AH, 6 had AF, 12 had hyper lipidemia and one was diabetic. We found
no statistically significant differences between groups regarding average body mass
index (BMI), blood pressure, pulse pressure, intima–media thickness (IMT), CCA diameter
or arterial beta stiffness indices. However, the trend of BMI increase, slight blood
and pulse pressure decrease, CCA diameter increase and beta stiffness index increase
was noted in VAD patients.
Even though there was no significant difference found among two explored subgroups
of patients with dementia, there was a tendency of greater systolic and diastolic
diameters noted in VAD as well as greater stiffness, especially when measured in the
right CCA. This indicates that VAD patients may have more prominent vascular changes
that may help differentiate the type of dementia and further monitor these individuals.
Further studies on a larger number of patients are needed support this evidence.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 20, 2009
Footnotes
☆Note: This study is a result of a scientific project: The role of vascular risk factors in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (No:134-134-0036-0035).
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Copyright
© 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.
