Se. Starkstein et al., A SPECT STUDY OF PARKINSONISM IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences, 7(3), 1995, pp. 308-313
The authors examined the presence of significant regional cerebral blo
odflow (rCBF) differences between Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients wi
th and without extrapyramidal signs (EPS). Nine patients with probable
AD and EPS (resting tremor or rigidity and bradykinesia) and 9 AD pat
ients without EPS, comparable in age, duration of illness, and global
cognitive decline, were studied with [Tc-99m]HMPAO SPECT. Patients wit
h AD and EPS showed significantly lower rCBF in the superior frontal,
superior temporal, and parietal regions of the left hemisphere than AD
patients without EPS. Rigidity and bradykinesia independently account
ed for the decreased rCBF in these areas. These findings suggest that
the presence of EPS in AD may result from dysfunction in specific brai
n regions.