ABSTRACT
Objective To assess regional cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and cognition impairment of subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD). To show whether CVR affects cognitive impairment of SIVD patients. Methods Arterial spin-labeling (ASL) by MR image was applied in measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobes after 5% CO2 inhalation, and the CVR was demonstrated by increase rate of rCBF in all the subject areas. Results (1)The patients with SIVD had reduced CVR in cortex of frontal lobes, white matter of frontal lobes, temporal lobes and occipital lobes(P < 0.05). (2) CVR in the SIVD patients with cognitive impairment decreased in frontal cortex and white matter when compared with the patients without cognitive impairment(P < 0.01). Conclusion These results showed that CVR decreased significantly in cortical gray matter and white matter in elderly patients with SIVD. Also the reduction of CVR in the frontal cortex and white matter was associated with cognitive impairment.