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A Cross-sectional Study of Homocysteine-, NO-levels, and CT-findings in Alzheimer Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Controls

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Abstract

Repetitive measurement with neuroimaging techniques could be useful instruments permitting to differentiate between Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The major genetic risk factor for the development of late-onset AD is the allele ε4 of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Moreover nitric oxide (NO) and homocysteine (Hcy) seems to be correlated with the degree of cognitive impairment in demented subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum NO and Hcy levels, global brain atrophy and brain vascular lesion in AD and VD patients. We report that high plasma levels of homocysteine resulted associated with AD and VD, suggesting that in AD elevated plasma Hcy might be a consequence of concomitant vascular dementia. Otherwise, plasma NO levels were not significantly different in any of the groups. Moreover, neuroimaging measures of vascular lesion level could be of usefulness to differentiate between AD and VD.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer disease

ApoE:

apolipoprotein E

CAT:

computer axial tomography

CDRS:

clinical demetia rating scale

Hcy:

homocysteine

MMSE:

mini mental state examination

MR:

magnetic resonance

NINCDS-ADRDA:

National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association

NINDS-AIREN:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences

NO:

nitric oxide

VD:

vascular dementia

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biology, University of Padua, I-35121, Padua, Italy

    Marcella Folin & Silvia Baiguera

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padua, I-35121, Padua, Italy

    Maria Teresa Conconi, Rosa Di Liddo & Pier Paolo Parnigotto

  3. Ca’ Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Maurizio Gallucci

  4. Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Ca’ Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy

    Andrea Zanardo

Authors
  1. Marcella Folin
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  2. Silvia Baiguera
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  3. Maurizio Gallucci
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  4. Maria Teresa Conconi
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  5. Rosa Di Liddo
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  6. Andrea Zanardo
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  7. Pier Paolo Parnigotto
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Correspondence to Marcella Folin.

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Folin, M., Baiguera, S., Gallucci, M. et al. A Cross-sectional Study of Homocysteine-, NO-levels, and CT-findings in Alzheimer Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Controls. Biogerontology 6, 255–260 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-005-2622-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-005-2622-3

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