Correlation between anosognosia and regional cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's disease

Neurosci Lett. 2008 Apr 11;435(1):7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.01.065. Epub 2008 Feb 6.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the brain regions associated with anosognosia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Anosognosia for memory disturbance was assessed in 29 probable AD patients, based on the discrepancy between questionnaire scores of the patients and their caregivers. In I-123-IMP single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), a significant association was found between anosognosia and decreased perfusion in the orbitofrontal cortex, using regression analysis. This result is consistent with the previous studies that have reported an association between frontal dysfunction and anosognosia, and further suggests that the orbitofrontal cortex specifically associates with anosognosia in AD within the frontal cortex.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Agnosia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Agnosia / etiology*
  • Agnosia / physiopathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications*
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Memory Disorders / etiology
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prefrontal Cortex / blood supply
  • Prefrontal Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon