in patients with vascular dementia, a significant increase in cortical glucose metabolism in bilateral anterior cingulate and in the left inferior temporal lobe, which are areas important for social interaction and remote memories, respectively. the use of single photon emission computed tomography on an elderly patient with alzheimer's disease revealed greater blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain, an area that degenerates in those with this disease. this was coupled with positive changes in evaluated behavioural traits.