Carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Silvestrini, Mauro; Gobbi, Beatrice; Pasqualetti, Patrizio; Bartolini, Marco; Baruffaldi, Roberto; Lanciotti, Chiara; Cerqua, Raffaella; Altamura, Claudia; Provinciali, Leandro; Vernieri, Fabrizio

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2007.11.008

« Previous Next »Neurobiology of Aging
Volume 30, Issue 8 , Pages 1177-1183, August 2009

Carotid atherosclerosis and cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Mauro Silvestrini
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Clinica Neurologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy. Tel.: +39 071 596 4530; fax: +39 071 887 262.
Beatrice Gobbi
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Patrizio Pasqualetti
- Center of Medical Statistics & Information Technology, AFaR-Fatebenefratelli Hospital-Isola Tiberina, Lungotevere degli Anguillara 12, 00153 Rome, Italy
Marco Bartolini
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Roberto Baruffaldi
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Chiara Lanciotti
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Raffaella Cerqua
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Claudia Altamura
- Neurological Clinic, Campus Biomedico University, Via Dei Compositori 130, 00128 Rome, Italy
Leandro Provinciali
- Neurological Clinic, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 1, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Fabrizio Vernieri
- Neurological Clinic, Campus Biomedico University, Via Dei Compositori 130, 00128 Rome, Italy

Received 4 April 2007; received in revised form 7 September 2007; accepted 9 November 2007. published online 12 December 2007.

Abstract

Aim of the study was to explore the correlation between the progression of carotid atherosclerosis and the evolution of cognitive impairment in 66 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). They underwent cognitive status evaluation and ultrasonography (US) to investigate carotid arteries intima–media thickness (IMT) and plaque index (PI). After a 12-month follow-up period, neuropsychological and US examinations were repeated to assess the progression of carotid atherosclerosis and of cognitive decline [in terms of changes in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores]. MMSE score changes were related to baseline IMT (p=0.018), changes in IMT (p<0.001) and PI (p=0.006), and “antihypertensive drug intake” (p<0.001). While the first three variables correlated with increased cognitive impairment, the last one was associated with a reduced extent of MMSE score decline. Results show a link between progression of carotid wall changes and of cognitive decline, and suggest a possible protective role of antihypertensive therapy. Given the potential clinical implications, our preliminary findings could stimulate further investigations into the role of vascular impairment in patients with AD.