Cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide in Alzheimer's disease.

Publication Type	Review
Authors	Glodzik L, Randall C, Rusinek H, de Leon M
Journal	J Alzheimers Dis
Volume	35
Issue	3
Pagination	427-40
Date Published	01/01/2013
ISSN	1875-8908
Keywords	Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Carbon Dioxide, Vasoconstriction
Abstract	There is growing evidence that cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide (CVRCO2) is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Preclinical and animal studies suggest chronic hypercontractility in brain vessels in AD. We review (a) preclinical studies of mechanisms for impaired CVRCO2 in AD; (b) clinical studies of cerebrovascular function in subjects with AD dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal cognition. Although results of clinical studies are inconclusive, an increasing number of reports reveal an impairment of vascular reactivity to carbon dioxide in subjects with AD, and possibly also in MCI. Thus, CVRCO2 may be an attractive means to detect an early vascular dysfunction in subjects at risk.
DOI	10.3233/JAD-122011
PubMed ID	23478306
PubMed Central ID	PMC3776495