Abstract #2699

Gach H, Dai W, Carmichael O, Lopez O, Becker J, Kuller L

Earlier studies indicated that hypertension (HTN) may be a risk factor for dementia. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured in 20 normal controls, 19 mild cognitive impaired, and 22 early Alzheime?s disease subjects using continuous arterial spin labeled perfusion MRI. Normal subjects with HTN had decreased rCBF in the putamen, globus pallidus and head of the caudate nucleus, left hippocampus and anterior cingulate gurus, with extension to the subcallosal area. Cognitively impaired subjects had decreased rCBF in the putamen and posterior thalamic regions. The effect of HTN on rCBF appears to decrease after the onset of the cognitive decline.