Depressed baroreflex sensitivity in patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD) are often associated with an autonomic neuropathy. The extent of autonomic involvement, however is poorly defined and unpredic table. In order to assess the autonomic car diovascular regulation baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was determined non-inva sively in 23 patients (age: 65 +/- 9.3 years) with PD and 24 patients with AD (age: 72.3 +/- 7.2 years). The results were compared with those on 22 he althy age- and sex-matched volunteers. Patients with PD and AD exhibited ma rked abnormalities in cardiovascular autonomic reflex regulation showed by markedly depressed BRS. The possible predictive value of centrally based de pression of baroreflex sensitivity necessitates further studies. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.