WEIGHT, BLOOD-PRESSURE, OSMOLARITY, AND GLUCOSE-LEVELS ACROSS VARIOUSSTAGES OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND VASCULAR DEMENTIA

Data collected as part of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging were analyzed to determine whether physiological changes associated with Al zheimer's disease are common to other types of dementia and are relate d more to the severity of cognitive impairment. We found that blood pr essure and body mass index decreased with increasing dementia severity in both probable Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. There wer e no differences in mean random blood glucose levels or serum osmolari ties between types or stages of dementia. We conclude that certain 'hy pometabolic' features are associated with dementia severity and are no t unique to Alzheimer's disease.