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Relationship of vascular risk to the progression of Alzheimer disease

Regan, Ciaran, Katona, Cornelius, Walker, Zuzana, Hooper, J., Donovan, J., Livingston, Gill (2006) Relationship of vascular risk to the progression of Alzheimer disease. Neurology, 67 (8). pp. 1357-1362. ISSN 0028-3878. (doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000240129.46080.53) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:12258)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000240129.46080....

Abstract

Objective: To test the hypothesis that patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) who have vascular risk factors have a worse prognosis over 18 months vs those without such risk factors. Methods: A sample of 224 people with AD and their caregivers were recruited purposively to be representative of people with dementia in terms of cognition, sex, and living situations in a longitudinal study of AD. Standardized instruments measuring cognition, functional status, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were used to collect data. Physical examination and relevant blood tests were performed. Result: There was no difference in rate of deterioration between people with and without vascular risk factors, except in those who had a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) during the 18-month follow-up (p < 0.001). We considered possible confounders of outcome: sex, age, years of education, severity of dementia, depression, taking cholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), and whether those with vascular risk factors were more likely to die, but the results remained unchanged. Stopping AChEIs during the study was associated with cognitive and functional decline (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Vascular risk factors as measured clinically and biochemically do not significantly increase deterioration at 18 months in people with Alzheimer disease who have a low burden of cerebrovascular risk factors. However, cerebrovascular events are associated with more rapid decline. Vascular risk factors may contribute to the expression of Alzheimer disease initially but are not part of the underlying etiologic process.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000240129.46080.53
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: M.P. Stone
Date Deposited: 08 Sep 2008 23:18 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:50 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/12258 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Katona, Cornelius.

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