血浆重金属浓度与阿尔茨海默病和血管性痴呆的关系

目的 探讨重金属在阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)和血管性痴呆(vascular dementia,VaD)发病过程中的作用,分析AD患者认知功能障碍与血浆重金属含量的关系.方法 纳入50例AD患者、20例VaD患者和20例正常对照者,AD患者按临床痴呆分级量表(Clinical Dementia Rating,CDR)分为轻度痴呆组(CDR=1分)和中重度痴呆组(CDR=2～3分).所有观察对象均行简易智能状态量表(Mini-Mental State Examination,MMSE)、Hachinski缺血指数评分和CDR评分,同时抽取空腹静脉血检测重金属(Cu、Ca、Fe、Me、Zn、Hg、Cr、Co、Se和Pb)的浓度.结果 与对照组比较,轻度AD组和中重度AD组血浆Cu浓度显著增高[分别为(0.66±0.21)、(0.84±1.11)和(0.85±1.12)ng/g,P＜0.05],轻度AD组与中重度AD组之间无显著差异.对照组Pb浓度显著低于中重度AD组[(22.79±3.94)ng/g对(40.82±16.96)ng/g,P＜0.05],而对照组与轻度AD组以及轻度AD组与中重度AD组之间均无显著差异.AD组血浆Cu浓度[(0.84±1.25)ne/g对(0.66 ±0.21)ng/g,P＜0.05]和Pb浓度[(32.42±14.12)ne/g对(22.79±3.94)ng/g,P＜0.05]均显著高于对照组,而VaD组与对照组之间金属浓度均无显著差异,VaD组和AD组之间的金属浓度亦无显著差异.结论 部分重金属,如Cu和Pb可能参与了AD的发病过程,但重金属浓度与VaD的发病关系不大,AD患者的认知障碍程度与血浆金属浓度无显著相关性.     

血清睾酮对老年男性轻度认知损伤和轻度痴呆患者认知功能的影响

目的　探讨认知损伤的老年男性患者中血清睾酮水平与认知功能的关系。方法　对 15例轻度认知损伤(MCI组 )、17例轻度阿尔茨海默病 (AD组 )、7例轻度血管性痴呆 (VaD组 )患者进行详细的认知功能检查。应用放射免疫法检测血清睾酮浓度。应用多元线性回归分析各项认知功能成绩与血清睾酮的关系 ,对年龄和文化水平进行调整。结果　MCI组睾酮与结构性检查的成绩呈正相关。轻度AD组睾酮与词表学习 3、复杂图形回忆和延迟回忆、领悟力、词语流畅性均呈正相关。轻度VaD组睾酮与词表学习 1的成绩呈负相关。当轻度AD和轻度VaD合并后 ,睾酮与词表学习 3、复杂图形复制和回忆及延迟回忆、领悟力、词语流畅性、简易智力状态检查表、地点定向、符号数字呈正相关关系 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　血清睾酮水平与MCI和轻度痴呆患者的视空间技能有选择性关系 ,并可能与词语和图形记忆以及执行功能有关 ,这对于雄激素替代治疗痴呆的研究有重要意义。     

Comparisons of cognitive deterioration rates by dementia subtype

Pathophysiological aspects of dementia and its rate of cognitive deterioration could be dependent on disease subtype, Alzheimer's dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD). 150 patients diagnosed at the Chungnam National University Hospital (87 women and 63 men) memory clinic. The participants consisted of 68 patients with AD, 23 patients with VaD, and 59 patients with PDD, who were diagnosed by the individual criteria, respectively. Cognitive screening was evaluated using the Korean version of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Repeated evaluations were conducted at 6-month, 1 year, and 2 years after initial baseline assessment. Rates of cognitive decline were calculated by dividing MMSE score differences by the number of months lapsed. No difference was found between the three dementia subtypes with respect to baseline MMSE scores. Cognitive decline was not obvious up to 6-month of the follow-up, but by 12-month of follow-ups was significant regardless of the dementia subtype. Furthermore, the rate of cognitive decline in the AD group was significantly faster than in the PDD or VaD groups. This study suggests that rate of cognitive deterioration in dementia is not linear over time and that dementia subtypes have different rates of cognitive deterioration.     

Comparisons of cognitive deterioration rates by dementia subtype

Pathophysiological aspects of dementia and its rate of cognitive deterioration could be dependent on disease subtype, Alzheimer's dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD). 150 patients diagnosed at the Chungnam National University Hospital (87 women and 63 men) memory clinic. The participants consisted of 68 patients with AD, 23 patients with VaD, and 59 patients with PDD, who were diagnosed by the individual criteria, respectively. Cognitive screening was evaluated using the Korean version of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Repeated evaluations were conducted at 6-month, 1 year, and 2 years after initial baseline assessment. Rates of cognitive decline were calculated by dividing MMSE score differences by the number of months lapsed. No difference was found between the three dementia subtypes with respect to baseline MMSE scores. Cognitive decline was not obvious up to 6-month of the follow-up, but by 12-month of follow-ups was significant regardless of the dementia subtype. Furthermore, the rate of cognitive decline in the AD group was significantly faster than in the PDD or VaD groups. This study suggests that rate of cognitive deterioration in dementia is not linear over time and that dementia subtypes have different rates of cognitive deterioration.     

Clock drawing testing and diffusion tensor imaging among vascular dementia versus Alzheimer's disease

PurposeTo assess the clock drawing testing (CDT) and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) differences between probable Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) and the CDT correlation with the DT-MRI.Subjects and methodsElderly patients presenting at the Geriatric outpatient clinic-Ain Shams University Hospitals, Egypt over a period of 6 months were recruited for the study. Tools of assessment including activities of daily living, geriatric depression scale-15 items, Mini-mental status examination, and Clock drawing test using Shulman et al. scoring system were applied to all participants. Diagnosis of dementia and its subtypes was confirmed using DSM-IV criteria. From the assessed subjects, thirty participants; ten cases of probable AD, ten cases of VaD and ten controls, were randomly chosen for assessment using DT-MRI, where apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and fractional anisotropy (FA), were evaluated in 15 regions of interest in the cerebral hemispheres.ResultsVaD cases showed significantly worse performance in CDT than AD cases with more prevalence of spacing errors among them. CDT had significant correlation with age, MMSE and ADL. Dementia was associated with increased ADC and decreased FA in DT-MRI. VaD had lower FA than AD. CDT was significantly correlated with white matter integrity of several areas on DT-MRI.ConclusionCDT differs among VaD and AD with a range of radiological correlations. DT-MRI is a sensitive and discriminative technique for evaluation of patients with dementia including probable AD and VaD. Larger studies are needed for establishing reference ranges.     

Serum uric acid level and association with cognitive impairment and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Serum uric acid (sUA) level may be associated with cognitive impairment/dementia. It is possible this relationship varies with dementia subtype, particularly between vascular dementias (VaD) and Alzheimer’s (AD) or Parkinson’s disease (PDD)-related dementia. We aimed to present a synthesis of all published data on sUA and relationship with dementia/cognition through systematic review and meta-analysis. We included studies that assessed the association between sUA and any measure of cognitive function or a clinical diagnosis of dementia. We pre-defined subgroup analyses for patients with AD, VaD, PDD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mixed or undifferentiated. We assessed risk of bias/generalizability, and where data allowed, we performed meta-analysis to describe pooled measures of association across studies. From 4811 titles, 46 papers (n?=?16,688 participants) met our selection criteria. Compared to controls, sUA was lower in dementia (SDM ?0.33 (95%CI)). There were differences in association by dementia type with apparent association for AD (SDM ?0.33 (95%CI)) and PDD (SDM ?0.67 (95%CI)) but not in cases of mixed dementia (SDM 0.19 (95%CI)) or VaD (SDM ?0.05 (95%CI)). There was no correlation between scores on Mini-Mental State Examination and sUA level (summary r 0.08, p?=?0.27), except in patients with PDD (r 0.16, p?=?0.003). Our conclusions are limited by clinical heterogeneity and risk of bias in studies. Accepting this caveat, the relationship between sUA and dementia/cognitive impairment is not consistent across all dementia groups and in particular may differ in patients with VaD compared to other dementia subtypes.     

Functional performance of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in southern Taiwan

This study investigated the functional performance of two major subtypes of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and to understand the need for assistance in performing activities of daily living. The subjects comprised 64 AD and 21 VaD patients who were recruited from two epidemiologic studies of dementia with a total of 3,931 community residents aged 65 years and above in southern Taiwan. The results showed that the severity of dementia was similar between the two groups. The mean score for AD was 82.7 and for VaD was 56.5 for total FIM (p < 0.05), 61.6 and 41.7 for the motor dimension (p < 0.05), and 21.1 and 15.7 for the cognitive dimension (p < 0.05). There were significant differences (p < 0.01) between AD and VaD in six FIM items and borderline or marginal significance (p < 0.05) in most of the FIM items. For AD patients, stairs, lower dressing, bathing, and tub/shower transfer were the most difficult items in the motor dimension, and it was memory in the cognitive dimension. For VaD patients, bathing, upper and lower dressing, and grooming were the most difficult items in the motor dimension, and it was problem solving in the cognitive dimension. VaD patients were more dependent on all FIM items and required more assistance than AD patients. The functional performances of dementia patients were significantly associated with dementia severity and subtypes, together accounting for 40% of the variability in total FIM. In conclusion, most dementia patients are dependent in daily activities and different types and severity of dementia lead to different disability profiles; individualized care is, therefore, most appropriate.     

Epidemiology of vascular dementia.

Although epidemiological studies are limited by diagnostic uncertainties, they suggest that stroke increases the risk of dementia. The mortality rate is higher in vascular dementia (VaD) than in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Community-based studies have provided several consistent findings: (i) age dependence with prevalence rates doubling every 5 years, (ii) a higher frequency in men and (iii) nation-to-nation differences. The prevalence of VaD ranges from 2.2% in 70- to 79-year-old women, to 16.3% in men >80 years. One sixth of acute stroke patients have preexisting dementia. The incidence of VaD has been studied much less extensively than that of AD, and substantial variations in the incidence rates have been observed: annual incidence rates (per 100,000) range from 20 to 40 between 60 and 69 years of age and from 200 to 700 over 80. The incidence rate of VaD declined over the last 2 decades, probably as a consequence of effective stroke prevention. It is generally assumed that risk factors for VaD are those of stroke, with arterial hypertension as leading factor, followed by atherosclerotic disease, low education level, alcohol abuse and heart disease. Stroke characteristics, such as lacunar infarction and left-sided hemispheric lesions, are major determinants of VaD. The cerebrovascular lesions are likely to be the only cause of dementia in strategic infarcts, in lacunar state, in hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy and in CADASIL. However, white matter changes, and associated Alzheimer pathology, which are both frequent in this age category, may also contribute to the cognitive decline.     

Lipids' peroxidation markers in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

Aim: Although a large body of evidence supports a role of oxidative stress in the etiopathogenesis of dementia, there is still a substantial lack of data regarding the biomarkers of oxidative stress characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as opposed to different types of dementia. In this study, the level of various oxidative stress parameters were measured in AD, vascular dementia (VaD), and age‐ and sex‐matched control patients. The AD and VaD patients all had similar levels of cognitive impairment as measured by the Mini‐Mental State Examination. Methods: Thirty AD, 19 VaD and 29 controls patients were recruited to the study. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total sulfhydryl (T‐SH), calcium (Ca⁺⁺) and magnesium (Mg⁺⁺) were measured. Results: In both AD and VaD groups, the levels of oxidative stress parameters were higher compared with controls. Further, the VaD patients expressed significantly higher levels of plasma parameters of oxidative stress than AD. The difference was noted in MDA, the marker of lipid peroxidation, whereas in VaD the level of MDA was more than 2.8‐fold higher than that registered in AD patients. Conclusion: Vascular dementia in patients is characteristic of increased levels of oxidative stress, especially lipid peroxidation markers. This finding is relevant to determining the pathophysiology of dementia, particularly in the light of the recently suggested importance of the vascular component in dementia development, in addition to aiding in the diagnosis of VaD following clinical presentation. The study will be continued to compare the character and level of decline in both groups.     

Different changes of bone mineral density and nutritional status after hospitalization between vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease in elderly female patients

Background:   Bone fractures strongly influence morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with dementia. The goal of this study was to examine whether difference in the type of dementia affects changes of bone mineral density (BMD) during hospitalization with rehabilitation programs.
Methods:   Ninety-four Japanese elderly female patients were enrolled. BMD, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and levels of serum albumin, calcium-related factors and urinary calcium excretion were measured.
Results:   Multivariable analyses indicated that serum albumin levels and MMSE scores were positively correlated with changes in BMD after 2 years hospitalization. Significant reduction of BMD levels after hospitalization were observed in patients with severe dementia (MMSE scores, <10) or with severe malnutrition (serum albumin, <2.0). We next classified our subjects into three groups according to the 4th edn of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria: non-dementia (ND), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Although there were no significant differences in age and physical activities among the groups; the levels of BMD were maintained in AD as well as ND but not in VaD. Notably, calcium excretion levels were significantly decreased after hospitalization in AD as well as ND but not in VaD. Serum 25(OH)D levels were also restored in AD but not in VaD. In addition, the nutritional status significantly improved in AD but not in VaD.
Conclusion:   The levels of BMD were maintained and the nutritional status was improved in AD but not in VaD for 2 years hospitalization with rehabilitation programs. These results suggest that different programs including nutritional support may be necessary for maintaining BMD levels in VaD as compared with AD during hospitalization.     

多奈哌齐与尼莫地平联合治疗老年期血管性痴呆的临床观察

目的探讨多奈哌齐与尼莫地平联合治疗老年期轻、中度血管性痴呆患者的疗效及安全性。方法将94例老年期血管性痴呆患者,采用随机表法分为3组:多奈哌齐与尼莫地平联合治疗组(联合治疗组,31例)、多奈哌齐组(31例)和尼莫地平组(32例)。分别在治疗前和治疗3、6个月后进行简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE)、画钟试验(CDT)、日常生活能力量表(ADL)和临床痴呆程度量表(CDR)的评估。结果治疗3个月后,与联合治疗组比较,多奈哌齐组和尼莫地平组患者的MMSE评分明显减少,ADL评分明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);3组患者CDT和CDR评分,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗6个月后,与联合治疗组比较,多奈哌齐组和尼莫地平组患者的MMSE和CDT评分明显减少,ADL和CDR评分明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论联合治疗能明显改善老年期血管性痴呆患者的认知功能、日常生活能力及社会活动功能,优于单独服用多奈哌齐或尼莫地平,且安全性好。     

Arterial hypertension: a cause of cognitive impairment and of vascular dementia

Arterial hypertension is a well-documented modifiable risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and for both cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage. Recent studies indicate a relationship between high blood pressure in midlife and dementia in late life and suggest that arterial hypertension may represent a cause of vascular dementia (VaD). This paper has reviewed the main evidence of a link between arterial hypertension and vascular cognitive impairment or VaD. Brain lesions induced by hypertension, diagnostic procedures for early diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment in at risk subjects and the need to include cognitive assessment in patient's general visits in hypertension units are discussed.     

Relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels and Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether decreased serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels could be a risk factor for dementia in older people. DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Showa University Karasuyama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 436 Japanese elderly subjects: 106 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 103 patients with vascular dementia (VaD), and 227 age-matched controls without dementia. MEASUREMENTS: Serum concentrations of IGF-1 and atherogenic lipoproteins, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and plaques were determined. RESULTS: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were positively correlated with serum IGF-1 concentrations as well as mean blood pressure or body mass index and were negatively correlated with age, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) concentrations, and carotid IMT. Serum IGF-1 concentrations had a significant inverse correlation with carotid IMT. Analysis across the IGF-1 quartiles revealed a threshold effect of low IGF-1 on MMSE score in subjects with the IGF-1 levels of 140 ng/mL or less (50% percentile) versus those with IGF-1 levels greater than 140 ng/mL. Multiple logistic regression concerning AD and VaD retained serum IGF-1 concentrations of 140 ng/mL or less and carotid IMT of 0.9 mm or more. Patients with AD and VaD had significantly lower IGF-1 concentrations and greater mean IMT than nondemented controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that decreased serum IGF-1 level and the progression of carotid atherosclerosis could play a role as independent risk factors for dementia.     

A systematic review of the efficacy of donepezil hydrochloride combined with nimodipine on treating vascular dementia

Background:Vascular dementia (VaD) is a comprehensive syndrome related to the damage of cognitive function and various cerebral vascular illnesses. VaD is also generally recognized as the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer disease, contributing to 30% of the dementia population in Asia and developing countries. The ability of donepezil hydrochloride and nimodipine had been respectively proven in improving cognitive function in vascular dementia. However, whether the combined application of both drugs contribute to better efficacy remains as a research hotspot. Studies had shown definite satisfactory result with such combination, however evidence-based evaluation of the efficacy is still lacking. Therefore, meta-analysis is employed in this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using donepezil hydrochloride combined with nimodipine in treating VaD to provide references for clinical treatments. The efficacy of donepezil hydrochloride combined with nimodipine on treating vascular dementia is systematically reviewed to provide evidence-based references for clinical applications.Methods:Both Chinese and English databases were searched from the start till August, 2020 for any RCT regarding the combined use of the 2 drugs in treating vascular dementia. Two investigators would later evaluate and screened out research and data based on an improved Jaded scale. Software Rev Man 5.3.0 was employed to carry out meta-analysis on clinical effificacy, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) ratings, activity of daily living (ADL) ratings, and clinical dementia scale (CDR) ratings.Results:Donepezil hydrochloride combined with nimodipine had demonstrated satisfactory efficacy on the treatment of vascular dementia. Improvements were namely spotted on MMSE scale, ADL scale, and CDR scale, with the utmost efficacy by 12 weeks after intervention.Conclusions:Donepezil hydrochloride combined with nimodipine had good efficacy in the treatment of patients with vascular dementia, mainly in terms of improving the Simple MMSE scores, the ability to use daily living scale (ADL) scores and the CDR, and the best results were obtained after 12 weeks of intervention. Such conclusion should be cautiously evaluated.     

阿托伐他汀对不同阶段血管性认知功能障碍患者认知功能及血脂的影响

目的探讨阿托伐他汀对不同阶段血管性认知功能障碍患者认知功能及血脂的影响。方法选取血管性认知功能障碍(VCI)患者140例,随机分为治疗组75例,其中无痴呆血管认知功能障碍(VCIND)患者47例,血管性痴呆(VaD)患者28例;对照组65例,其中VCIND患者41例,VaD患者24例。对照组给予常规治疗,治疗组在常规治疗基础上每晚加服阿托伐他汀20 mg,比较不同阶段的VCI患者治疗前后TC、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C及简易智能状态检查表(MMSE)、画钟试验分数等指标。结果治疗组VCIND和VaD患者治疗后TC、TG、LDL-C、MMSE、画钟试验的指标改善优于治疗前和对照组(P0.01),VCIND患者治疗后MMSE、画钟试验评分差值明显高于VaD组(P0.01),血脂变化无显著差异。结论阿托伐他汀调脂治疗的同时能改善VCI患者的认知功能,改善VCIND患者认知功能的作用优于VaD患者。     

阿尔茨海默病和血管性痴呆患者血管紧张素转换酶和载脂蛋白E基因多态性分析

目的　探讨阿尔茨海默病 (AD)及血管性痴呆 (VaD)与血管紧张素转换酶 (ACE)和载脂蛋白E(apoE)基因多态性的关系。方法　应用聚合酶链反应和限制性片段长度多态性方法 ,检测了 2 6例晚发AD患者、5 4例VaD患者和6 8例正常老年人的ACE和apoE基因多态性。结果　AD组中apoE等位基因频率分别为ε2 0 .0 77、ε30 .6 15及ε40 .30 8,VaD组apoE等位基因频率分别为ε2 0 .0 5 6、ε30 .6 85及ε4 0 .2 5 9,AD组和VaD组apoEε4等位基因频率显著高于对照组。ACE基因AD组和VaD组DD型频率高于对照组 ,D等位基因亦高于对照组。结论　ACEDD型、apoEε4可能是AD及VaD发病的危险因素     

Endovascular middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats as a model for studying vascular dementia

Vascular dementia (VaD), incorporating cognitive dysfunction with vascular disease, ranks as the second leading cause of dementia in the United States, yet no effective treatment is currently available. The challenge of defining the pathological substrates of VaD is complicated by the heterogeneous nature of cerebrovascular disease and coexistence of other pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) types of lesion. The use of rodent models of ischemic stroke may help to elucidate the type of lesions that are responsible for cognitive impairment in humans. Endovascular middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in rats is considered to be a convenient and reliable model of human cerebral ischemia. Both sensorimotor and cognitive dysfunction can be induced in the rat endovascular MCA occlusion model, yet sensorimotor deficits induced by endovascular MCA occlusion may improve with time, whereas data presented in this review suggest that in rats this model can result in a progressive course of cognitive impairment that is consistent with the clinical progression of VaD. Thus far, experimental studies using this model have demonstrated a direct interaction of cerebral ischemic damage and AD-type neuropathologies in the primary ischemic area. Further, coincident to the progressive decline of cognitive function, a delayed neurodegeneration in a remote area, distal to the primary ischemic area, the hippocampus, has been demonstrated in a rat endovascular MCA occlusion model. We argue that this model could be employed to study VaD and provide insight into some of the pathophysiological mechanisms of VaD.     

上海部分城乡地区血管性痴呆的发病率及危险因素研究

目的　调查上海部分城乡地区血管性痴呆 (VaD)的发病率及相关危险因素。方法　在上海地区基线患病率调查的基础上选择 5个居委会和 4个村委会的居民作为研究对象。通过简易精神状态量表 (MMSE) ,根据文化程度划分的分界值进行初筛 ,在分界值以下的对象和正常人群中随机选择 4 %进入细查。细查项目有体格检查、详细病史记录以及成套的神经心理学测试 ,包括 :Pfeffer功能活动、Fuld物体记忆、快速物体回忆、韦氏儿童智力量表积木测验和韦氏成人智力量表数字广度、日常生活功能量表 (ADL)、HachisKi缺血量表、汉密顿抑郁量表 (HAMD)等。以精神障碍诊断和统计手册作为痴呆的诊断标准。 6个月后对所有进入细查的对象进行复查 ,根据美国神经病学、语言障碍和卒中 老年性痴呆和相关疾病学会的标准诊断阿尔茨海默病 (AD) ;根据美国国立神经病卒中研究所和瑞士神经科学研究国际协会的标准诊断VaD。结果　在实际完成初筛的 35 4 5例中 ,确诊新发痴呆病例 112例 ,其中VaD 2 8例 ,发病率是 2 .5 4 3 千人年 (标化率为 2 .4 0 3 千人年 )。VaD与年龄呈正相关 ,其OR =1.12 7(95 %CI :1.0 76～ 1.179,P =0 .0 0 0 ) ,与教育呈负相关 ,其OR =0 .6 5 4 (95 %CI:0 .4 5 1～ 0 .94 3,P =0 .0 2 3)。结论　上海部分城乡地区     

Relationship between antihypertensive drug therapy and cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients with memory complaints

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between antihypertensive treatments and cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients with memory complaints. METHODS: The association between cognitive function and antihypertensive drug therapy was studied in 1241 hypertensive elderly patients with memory complaints attending a geriatric outpatient clinic. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and validated neuropsychological tests (Cognitive Efficiency Profile; CEP). Patients were classified into four categories according to their cognitive status: normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD). RESULTS: In this population aged 78 +/- 8 years, with a mean blood pressure of 152 +/- 19/86 +/- 12 mmHg, antihypertensive treatment was prescribed for 57% of patients. After adjustment for age, sex and education, treated hypertensive patients had better cognitive function than untreated patients (MMSE score 23.9 +/- 5.6/30 versus 22.7 +/- 6.4/30, P < 0.001, CEP score 49.1 +/- 24.9/100 versus 45.4 +/- 23.7/100, P < 0.001). This association was observed independently of the cognitive status, both in normal, MCI, AD and VaD hypertensive patients. The odds ratio (OR) for AD was 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.81] in treated compared with untreated hypertensive patients. In patients on antihypertensive therapy, higher cognitive function was observed in patients using calcium antagonists compared with those without calcium antagonists (CEP 52.9 +/- 24.6/100 versus 46.4 +/- 23.4/100, P < 0.001; OR for AD 0.67; 95% CI 0.45-0.99), independently of blood pressure level. CONCLUSIONS: Antihypertensive therapy was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment and AD. In particular, the use of calcium antagonists was associated with a decreased risk of cognitive impairment and AD independently of the blood pressure level, suggesting a specific neuroprotective effect of these antihypertensive agents.     

Systematic review of statins for the prevention of vascular dementia or dementia

Aim: Non‐hypolipidemic effects of statins, known as pleiotropic effects, are likely to explain the effect of statins on dementia. Results of the relationship between statins and dementia in previous studies are conflicting. There is no systematic review investigating the effect of statins on vascular dementia (VaD). This systematic review evaluates the role of statins in the prevention of VaD or dementia. The possible causes of conflicting results in the existing published work will be explored. Methods: Relevant studies were systematically identified and reviewed. The Cochrane Controlled Trials and three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycInfo) were searched. The selection criteria were defined a priori. Included studies were rated by quality assessment checklists and two independent reviewers. Results: Six studies in dementia, two studies in VaD (one study reported both dementia and VaD) and two meta‐analyses met the selection criteria. The studies covered 1372 cases of dementia from 14 430 participants and 116 cases of VaD from 4924 participants from the USA and UK. There was no association between statin use and risk of VaD. The protective effect of statins on dementia was demonstrated only in a nested case–control study of lower quality and one recently published cohort study. In most other cohort and high quality studies, statin use did not show a beneficial effect. Conclusion: Study design differences among the studies and methodological shortcomings may have resulted in different outcomes. On the basis of these conflicting results, statins could not be recommended as a preventative treatment for dementia.