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Motor cortex disinhibition in Alzheimer's disease
1Department of Neurology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany. liepert@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Objectives:
To explore subclinical disturbances in the motor cortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methods:
We used transcranial magnetic stimulation in a paired pulse technique to test intracortical inhibition (ICI) and intracortical facilitation in mildly to moderately demented AD patients with a normal neurological examination. Patients were studied before and during treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil.
Results:
AD patients had a reduced ICI compared to an age-matched control group. The amount of disinhibition correlated with the severity of dementia. Treatment with 10 mg donepezil daily was associated with an increase of ICI.
Conclusions:
The subclinical motor cortex disinhibition in AD patients indicates a functional disturbance, and is probably associated with a cholinergic deficit.