Cerebral blood flow correlates of higher brain dysfunctions in corticobasal degeneration

To investigate clinicoanatomic correlations of higher brain dysfunctions in corticobasal degeneration, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was semiqua ntitatively measured with single-photon emission computed tomography in 9 p atients with corticobasal degeneration and 12 age-matched control subjects. The patients showed significant reductions of relative tracer uptake in wi despread cortical areas, as well as the basal ganglia and thalamus. Interhe mispheric difference of hypoperfusion was significant in the sensorimotor a nd posterior parietal cortices. Asymmetric limb apraxia and cortical sensor y disturbance corresponded to either sensorimotor cortical or posterior par ietal cortical hypoperfusion or both. Compared with the patients without de mentia, those with dementia showed significant reductions of relative rCBF in the inferior prefrontal region in the more affected hemisphere. The uniq ue correlation of cortical signs with regional hypoperfusion may be useful in distinguishing between corticobasal degeneration and other neurodegenera tive diseases.