Relationship between Delusions and Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

To investigate the association between delusions and cerebral functional deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), we evaluated probable AD patients with and without delusions. Methods: Functional brain imaging was performed by single photon emission computed tomography with technetium-99m-labeled ethyl cysteinate dimer (^99mTc-ECD) in 64 AD patients and 76 age-matched normal healthy volunteers. SPECT data were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping. Results: In AD patients, no differences were found in age and cognitive activities between those with (n = 25) and without (n = 39) delusions. Compared with normal healthy volunteers, AD patients had significantly decreased perfusion in the posterior cingulate gyri, precunei, and parietal association cortex. Moreover, in the patients with delusions, perfusion was significantly decreased in the frontal lobe with right side dominance. In the comparison between the patients with and without delusions, the patients with delusions had significantly decreased perfusion in the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyri, inferior to middle temporal cortices, and parietal cortex of the right hemisphere (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The functional deficits in the right hemisphere may be the cause of delusions in AD.

Free radical scavengers vitamins A, C, and E plus magnesium reduce noise trauma

“…As in our investigation, combinations of antioxidants have been shown to be more effective than single agents in at least some cases [43]. Vasoregulators are also clearly of potential benefit given observations of reduced cortical blood flow in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease [114][115][116][117][118]. This similarity of free radical production and reduced blood flow in neurodegenerative processes and NIHL, and the demonstrated efficacy of antioxidants plus magnesium in reducing sensory cell death and neurodegeneration in the cochlea, provides a compelling rationale for study of combinations of antioxidants, with and without magnesium, to ameliorate neurodegeneration from other stresses and disease processes, at other sites of the nervous system, of more heterogeneous origins, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.…”

Neuropsychological Research in Delusional Disorder: A Comprehensive Review

“…Nowadays, it can be suggested that the region associated with the cognitive process of belief evaluation is located in the right frontal lobe, and hence it may be predicted that patients with these types of delusions (brain injury-related delusions) will have right frontal damage [52]. However, although this hemispheric explanation is consistent with some of the findings for pathological beliefs arising from brain injury and dementia [53,54,55], the evidence for such a clear functional asymmetry in idiopathic psychosis has yet to be found [56]. Furthermore, it is important to note that so far none of these results have been tested in persons with DD.…”

Insular Hypoperfusion Correlates with the Severity of Delusions in Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Previous neuroimaging studies of delusions in AD patients have suggested that the frontal lobe [7][8][9] and the right hemisphere [10,11] are associated with the onset of delusions in AD patients based on comparison of patients with and without delusions. Regarding the neural substrates for exacerbation of delusions, only two studies have been reported.…”