See our article on Selegiline and Vitamin E in this series. Epidemiological evidence now indicates that there are vascular risk factors associated with the cognitive impairment seen in Alzheimer's disease. The presence of cerebrovascular disease magnifies the presence and severity of the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Nitric oxide preserves the integrity of vascular endothelium by enhancing an endothelium-derived relaxing factor, inhibiting vascular incidents. Nitric oxide may hook up with another signaling agent, carbon monoxide, which also exerts certain effects within and without the vascular system.
Carbon monoxide is liable to self-regulation by nitric oxide.
These two messenger systems interact in a varied manner, influencing each other in a synergistic or antagonistic fashion depending on conditions. Prevention of vascular incidents could reduce the incidence of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease exacerbated by vascular infarctions. There may be a role for these two signaling agents in the prevention of some subtypes of Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder. The frequency rates are higher for women over 85 than for men. Vascular risk factors appear in Alzheimer's disease patients.