Neuropsychological Correlates of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in Alzheimer's Disease

Frederick A. Schmitt, Wei Jen Shih, Steven T. Dekosky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Defects in cerebral perfusion in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are detectable with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Positron emission tomography (PET) has shown parietotemporal decreases in cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in AD patients, compared with normal elderly adults. In addition, interhemispheric metabolic differences on PET scans appear to predict lateralized deficits in neuropsychological performance. Looking for associations between regional cortical perfusion on SPECT scans and cognitive test performance, we studied 15 patients with probable AD of mild to moderate severity. Using I-123-HIPDM, we determined that the degree and extent of decreased perfusion on SPECT scans was associated with severity of AD and that neuropsychological test scores correlated with findings of lateralized perfusion deficits on SPECT scans. Perfusion deficits on SPECT scans were also associated with estimates of global changes in intellectual functioning.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-171
Number of pages13
JournalNeuropsychology
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1992

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • SPECT
  • dementia
  • neuropsychology
  • single photon emission computed tomography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

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