Low blood flow link to dementia

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A comparison study shows how blood flow to the brain is reduced among those with dementia compared to older people with normal cognition.
The brain of someone with dementia is less active than that of someone who doesn't have the condition. Now a team at Leiden University, The Netherlands, shows how lack of blood flow to the brain may be a factor in causing dementia. They compared blood flow to the brain in a small group of people with dementia, those of the same age with normal cognitive function, and younger healthy people.

Blood flow was less in the two older groups. But it was much less among those with dementia. Even allowing for the fact that those with dementia have less brain activity, the researchers believe their findings may point to a causal role for reduced blood flow in dementia. Possible causes of such low blood flow are narrowing of the arteries and heart failure. If these conditions can be controlled then maybe the risk of dementia can be averted.

Source
Radiology September 2005

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