Abstract
We have investigated Metrizamide CT-cisternography in multi-infarct dementia (MID) : 29 cases, senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) : 7 cases, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) : 8 cases and spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) : 3 cases.
By quantitative manner the differences of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flowdynamics in each group have been evaluated. In comparison with SCD which show normal CSF flow, MID show tendency to ventricular reflux and convexity stasis. No difference was seen between MID and SDAT. Though NPH shows stronger ventricular reflux than that or MID, the stasis in MID is more severe than that of NPH. In MID group subject of older than 70 years show more severe SCF flow disturbances. When divided into two groups by ADL (Activities of daily living) scale (full of 15 points) the group of less than 6 points show slight disturbances in comparison with that of more than 6 points. And the same is true in Hasegawas dementia rating scales, namely the group of less than 21 points (full of 32.5) shows slight disturbances in comparison with that of more than 21 points.
The flow dynamics pattern of slight ventricular reflux in 24 hours and stasis in convexity from 24 to 48 hours seems to be typical in either MID or SDAT. But such a pattern has never been reported in SCF flow dynamics studies. These findings may suggest that CSF flow disturbances have a close relation with aging and dementia.
