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Decreased cutaneous vasodilatation to isometric handgrip exercise in Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Kálmán János,
Szakács Réka,
Török Tamás,
Rózsa Zsuzsa,
Barzó Pál,
Rudas László,
Papp J. Gy.,
Janka Zoltán
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.609
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , vasodilation , medicine , hemodynamics , cholinergic , autonomic nervous system , cardiology , sympathetic nervous system , blood pressure , cold pressor test , heart rate , vascular resistance
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.