Undetected Peripheral Arterial Disease Among Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

Abstract

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was reported to increase the risk of dementia(s) even more than stroke. We assessed the prevalence of PAD in a group with definite diagnosis of dementia. Methods: Patients aged 65 years or older with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), or AD-VaD were enrolled (n = 162, mean age: 78.87 [6.05] years). An age- and gender-matched control group was also included (n = 190). Peripheral arterial disease was diagnosed by the ankle–brachial index. Results: Frequency of PAD among patients with and without dementia was 35.2% and 16.3%, respectively (P