Cognitive disorders and cerebral perfusion in respiratory failure. [Disturbi cognitivi e perfusione cerebrale nella invalidità respiratoria.]

The neurological involvement in COPD patients, which is one of the most frequent and main pictures of chronic respiratory disability, is well documented. However, only recently a systematic study of cerebral function in this disease has been performed. Neurological compromissions in COPD consist in impairment of neuropsychological activity with a reduction of higher cerebral functions, morphological and functional adaptation of cerebral circulation. Furthermore, modifications of regional cerebral perfusion have also been found, as well documented by new diagnostic techniques such as SPECT. The study of cerebral perfusion may have implications on both the interpretation of the role and the effect of the neurological compromission in chronic respiratory disease.