Cerebral vasomotor responses during oxygen inhalation. Results in normal aging and dementia

Resting-state regional gray matter flow (Fg) values and cerebral vasoconstrictor responses induced by 100% oxygen inhalation were measured with the 133 Xe inhalation method in normal healthy volunteers aged between 15 and 86 years and in patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT) or multi-infarct dementia (MID). Cross-sectional analysis revealed that there were linear decreases of oxygen responses with advancing age in 84 normal volunteers between the second to ninth decades. Eleven patients with SDAT showed bilateral and symmetrical reductions of resting-state Fg values compared with 22 age-matched normal healthy volunteers. Eight patients with MID showed no significant reduction of mean Fg values compared with normal controls and patients with SDAT. Oxygen vasoconstrictive responses in SDAT were symmetrical and similar to those seen in age-matched controls. Compared with patients with SDAT, patients with MID showed reduced oxygen vasoconstrictive responses that were asymmetrical between hemispheres as well as heterogeneous within hemispheres. Testing cerebral vasoconstrictor responses by 100% oxygen inhalation is helpful for differentiating SDAT from MID.