Neurovascular Dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease. Assessment of Cerebral Vasoreactivity by Ultrasound Techniques and Evaluation of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Inflammatory Markers

AIMS The aims of this study were to assess vascular dysfunction in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) by investigating cerebral vasomotor reactivity using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) and to evaluate any correlations between cerebral vasoreactivity and endothelium dysfunction. Moreover, the frequency of circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) and the blood concentration of vascular/inflammatory markers were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS We recruited 35 AD subjects and 17 age-matched, sex-matched, and education-matched healthy control subjects. Cerebral vasomotor reactivity was assessed by means of the TCD-based breath-holding index test (BHI). The level of CPCs was evaluated by means of flow cytometry from venous blood samples, while blood vascular/inflammatory markers were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Both cerebral assay blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCAFV) and BHI values were significantly lower in AD subjects than in healthy controls (P