Clinical and functional assessment of dysautonomia and its correlation in Alzheimer's disease

Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2012 Dec;27(8):592-9. doi: 10.1177/1533317512459792. Epub 2012 Sep 23.

Abstract

The aims were to assess dysautonomia in Alzheimer's Disease (AD), clinically and electrophysiologically, using sympathetic skin response (SSR) test and R-R interval variation (RRIV) test and to analyze the relationship between symptoms of dysautonomia and SSR/RRIV results. A tota of 54 patients with AD and 37 controls were evaluated using Autonomic Symptoms Questionnaire and SSR/RRIV test. Clinical dysautonomia was observed in 66% of patients (eg, orthostatic hypotension in 34.5%, constipation in 17.2%, urinary incontinence in 13.8%). The SSR test was abnormal in 26%, but the RRIV test was abnormal in 97.7% of cases; there was significant difference in RRIV test results between AD and controls (R mean 8.05% and 14.6%, respectively). In AD, clinical dysautonomia occurs at a various degree, and the abnormal SSR and RRIV test results were not always related to the presence of clinical dysautonomia; this observation points that the tests could be used as a useful tool in the assessment of subclinical dysautonomia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications*
  • Arm
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Leg
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Primary Dysautonomias / complications*
  • Primary Dysautonomias / diagnosis*
  • Primary Dysautonomias / physiopathology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Respiratory Rate / physiology
  • Skin / innervation
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology*