There has been a growing interest in vascular impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This interest was stimulated by the findings of higher incidence of vascular risk factors in AD. Signs of vascular impairment were investigated notably in the field of imaging methods. Our aim was to explore ultrasonographic studies of extra- and intracranial vessels in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and define implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. The most frequently studied parameters with extracranial ultrasound are intima-media thickness in common carotid artery, carotid atherosclerosis, and total cerebral blood flow. The transcranial ultrasound concentrates mostly on flow velocities, pulsatility indices, cerebrovascular reserve capacity, and cerebral microembolization. Studies suggest that there is morphological and functional impairment of cerebral circulation in AD compared to healthy subjects. Ultrasound as a non-invasive method could be potentially useful in identifying individuals in a higher risk of progression of cognitive decline.

Department of Neurology 2nd Faculty of Medicine Motol University Hospital Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Neurology 2nd Faculty of Medicine Motol University Hospital Charles University Prague Czech Republic ; International Clinical Research Center St Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic

Department of Neurology International Clinical Research Center St Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic

Department of Neurosurgery 1st Faculty of Medicine Central Military Hospital Charles University Prague Czech Republic ; International Clinical Research Center St Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic

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Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Information from Animal Models on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Cognitive Deficits

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