Leuko-araiosis and cerebral hypoperfusion compared in elderly normals and Alzheimer's dementia

To elucidate the pathogenesis of leuko-araiosis in patients with Alzheimer's disease by utilizing CT densitometry of the brain and measurements of local perfusion in order to quantify the extent of leuko-araiosis and local hypoperfusion compared with similar measurements made among age-matched normal volunteers.

Cross-sectional case-control study.

Out-patient visits to a specialized laboratory located in a large hospital facility.

Eighteen elderly patients with probable dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT, aged 71.8 +/- 5.1 years) and 17 neurologically and cognitively normal, age-matched volunteers (aged 68.2 +/- 9.6 years) were admitted to the study according to established criteria.

None

Cerebral blood flow (mL/100 g brain/min) estimated by the xenon inhalation CT-CBF method correlated with volume percentage ratio (%) measured by CT densitometry for leuko-araiosis, compared to normal white and gray matter.

Perfusion values for frontal and occipital white matter as well as frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortex were all decreased in DAT patients. Ratios for leuko-araiosis to total brain tissue volumes were greater among patients with DAT compared with age-matched normal volunteers. White matter perfusion in zones of leuko-araiosis was decreased to a similar degree in both DAT and elderly normal volunteers.

Perfusion is reduced to the same degree in regions of leuko-araiosis in elderly normals as in DAT patients, but the extent of leuko-araiosis is greater among DAT patients and presumably contributes to cognitive impairments.