Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Intracerebroventricular Injection of Amyloid-β Peptides in Normal Mice to Acutely Induce Alzheimer-like Cognitive Deficits
Published on: March 16, 2016
Brain acetylcholinesterase activity in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease
J O Rinne1, V Kaasinen, T Järvenpää
1Department of Neurology, University of Turku, FIN-20521 Turku, Finland. juta.rinne@pet.tyks.fi
Objective:
Brain acetylcholinesterase activity was determined in healthy controls and in patients with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease.
Methods:
A specific acetylcholinesterase tracer, [methyl-(11)C]N-methyl-piperidyl-4-acetate ([(11)C]MP4A), and a three dimensional PET system with magnetic resonance coregistration were used for imaging.
Results:
There was a significant difference in the acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus between the groups (p = 0.03), the mean (SD) acetylcholinesterase activity (k(3) values, min(-1)) being 0.114 (0.036) in controls, 0.098 (0.023) in mild cognitive impairment, and 0.085 (0.022) in Alzheimer's disease. The mini-mental state examination score showed no significant relation with acetylcholinesterase activity in any brain area in the combined mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer group.
Conclusions:
Hippocampal acetylcholinesterase activity is only slightly reduced in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease and so the value of in vivo acetylcholinesterase measurements in detecting the early Alzheimer process is limited.
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...