Decreased cutaneous vasodilatation to isometric handgrip exercise in Alzheimer's disease

✍ Scribed by János Kálmán; Réka Szakács; Tamás Török; Zsuzsa Rózsa; Pál Barzó; László Rudas; J. Gy. Papp; Zoltán Janka

• Book ID: 102229666
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 56 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.609

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Cutaneous active vasodilatation is a cholinergic nerve mediated function of the sympathetic nervous system and the disturbed function of cholinergic neurotransmission is known as a prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

To assess this relationship, skin blood flow (SkBF) and other haemodynamic parameters were determined by a simple vasodilatory test, isometric handgrip exercise (IHG), in 22 late‐onset sporadic type AD and 20 aged control persons (AC).

Results

Significantly higher cutaneous vascular resistance and decreased SkBF were found after the stimulus in the AD group. A smaller reduction (p < 0.03) of R wave intervals on the electrocardiogram was observed in the AD group compared to the AC one. After IHG, change in systolic blood pressure was less in the AD (p < 0.01) than in the AC group.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that autonomic dysfunction affecting active vasodilator sympathetic, as well as parasympathetic functions is present in AD. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.