ISSN:
1435-1463
Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease
;
nerve growth factor
;
positron emission tomography
;
nicotine binding
;
cerebral blood flow
;
episodic memory
;
EEG
;
nicotinic receptors
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Based on animal research suggesting that nerve growth factor (NGF) can stimulate central cholinergic neurons, the known losses of cholinergic innervation of the cortices in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and our experience of infusing NGF to support adrenal grafts in parkinsonian patients, we have initiated clinical trials of NGF infusions into the brain of patients with AD. Here we report a follow-up of our first case, a 69-year-old woman, with symptoms of dementia since 8 years. Intraventricular infusion of 6.6 mg NGF during three months resulted in a marked transient increase in uptake and binding of11C-nicotine in frontal and temporal cortex and a persistent increase in cortical blood flow as measured by PET as well as progressive decreases of slow wave EEG activity. After one month of NGF, tests of verbal episodic memory were improved whereas other cognitive tests were not. No adverse effects could be ascribed to the NGF infusion. Taken together, the results of this case study indicate that NGF may counteract cholinergic deficits in AD, and suggest that further clinical trials of NGF infusion in AD are warranted.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02257624
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