Cerebral hemodynamic patterns during stimuli tasks in multi-infarct and Alzheimer types of dementia

Abstract

Objectives – To examine differences in cerebrovascular reactivity between multi‐infarct and Alzheimer types of dementia. Patients and methods – Using transcranial Doppler, measurements of flow velocity in the middle cerebral arteries during apnea, thumb‐to‐finger opposition and verbal and design discrimination tasks were recorded in patients with multi‐infarct (n = 10; mean age 68 + 7.5 years) and Alzheimer types of dementia (n = 10; mean age 62±9.1 years). Controls were 20 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Results – Cerebral reactivity to apnea was significantly lower (PPPConclusion – These data suggest that cerebrovascular reactivity to apnea could be an additional criterion for discriminating between MID and DAT patients. Transcranial Doppler assessment during cognitive and motor tasks could provide useful complementary information for comprehension changes in cerebral activity in patients with dementia.