P4-105: Endothelial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Recently, vascular risk factors have been accused in the pathogenesis of AD. The aim of this study was to compare endothelial function in AD and healthy controls. Total number of 25 AD patients without any vascular risk factors and 24 healthy elderly controls were enrolled in this study. Exclusion criteria were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, evident stroke, smoking, documented coronary artery disease, history of myocardial infarction, heart failure, acute or chronic infection, malignancy, peripheral artery disease, renal disease, rheumatologic diseases, alcohol abuse and certain drugs that may affect endothelial function (antilipidemic drugs, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, antioxidants, calcium channel blockers, beta blokers, corticosteroids). Both groups underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment and neuropsychiatric assessment. Endothelial function was evaluated by Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) from the brachial artery of the subjects. In AD group with 11 female and 14 male subjects, mean age was 78±5.9. Mean age of the control group with 9 female and 11 male subjects was 72.1±5.8. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that FMD value was significantly lower in patients with AD than controls (mean FMD for AD: 3.45±1.79 and for control group: 8.41±3.36; p <0.001). It was also found that FMD values were inversely correlated with the stage of the disease according to CDR (r = –0.603, p < 0.001). We have found that endothelial dysfunction occurs in AD patients without any other vascular risk factors. As the disease progresses endothelial dysfunction becomes worse. These findings give evidence that vascular factors have a role in the pathogenesis of AD.