CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW CHANGES IN NORMAL AGING - SPECT MEASUREMENTS

Global and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) were evaluated with sing le photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) utilizing both Xeno n-133 (Xe-133 subjects, 47-82 years old) and Tc-99-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (Tc-99-HMPAO) (27 subjects, 47-80 years old). The Xe-133 r esults showed: among total subjects, no age-related decline in global CBF, but a significant regional decline in the occipital lobe (p < 0.0 5); among men, significant age-related declines in global, frontal, te mporal, occipital and right hemisphere CBF (all p < 0.05); among women , no age-related decline in global or regional CBF. The Tc-99-HMPAO re sults showed no age-related decline in either global or regional perfu sion among total subjects, men or women. These results suggest that ag e-related global and regional (including frontal lobe) CBF declines do not occur in healthy control subjects after the age of 45 years. Howe ver, gender differences in age-related CBF changes warrant further stu dy.