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Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between baseline white matter lesions ( WML) and changes in regional cerebral blood flow during longitudinal follow up of patients with Alzheimer's disease ( AD). Methods A total of 38 patients with AD were included in the study (16 men, 22 women; mean age 77.8 years). All patients were evaluated using the Mini- Mental State Examination and brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography at baseline with an approximately 2-year follow up. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to the presence of WML on magnetic resonance imaging. Single-photon emission computed tomography data were analyzed using a voxel-by-voxel group analysis with Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 and region of interest analysis using FineSRT. Changes in Mini- Mental State Examination scores and regional cerebral blood flow were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Mean Mini- Mental State Examination scores in AD patients with WML significantly decreased from 19.4 ± 4.8 to 15.5 ± 6.5 ( P = 0.003). Statistical Parametric Mapping 8 and FineSRT analysis showed more severe and widespread regional cerebral blood flow reduction, mainly in the frontal and mesial temporal regions in AD patients with WML compared with those without WML. Conclusion Baseline WML could predict a rapid progression of cognitive and brain functional impairment during longitudinal follow up in AD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 836-842. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with and without subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). Methods: Eleven AD patients with SCH and 141 AD patients without SCH underwent brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The SPECT data were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) and FineSRT. Results: AD patients with SCH showed a significantly decreased rCBF mainly in the temporal lobe and thalamus, whereas those without SCH showed a significantly decreased rCBF in the parietotemporal lobe and cingulate gyrus as well as the frontal lobe. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SCH may affect cerebral perfusion in regions associated with the memory function. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]