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Neuroreceptor changes in Alzheimer disease
1Department of Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Cerebrovascular and Brain Metabolism Reviews
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Alzheimer disease involves significant neuroreceptor changes, particularly in nicotinic and glutamate systems. In vivo imaging offers new insights into these alterations during the disease
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuropathology
- Molecular Psychiatry
Background:
- Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by widespread neuroreceptor alterations.
- Post-mortem studies reveal receptor changes late in dementia, potentially limiting therapeutic insights.
- In vivo imaging techniques like PET and SPECT offer opportunities to study early-stage AD neuroreceptor dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neuroreceptor changes in Alzheimer disease.
- To highlight the utility of in vivo imaging for studying AD.
- To discuss potential diagnostic markers based on receptor alterations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of autopsy brain tissue and neurosurgical biopsies.
- Review of findings from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) studies.
- Examination of peripheral non-neural tissue receptor alterations.
Main Results:
- Consistent deficits in cholinergic systems, with losses in nicotinic receptors but preserved muscarinic receptors.
- Reduced serotonin (5-HT1, 5-HT2) and glutamate receptors (NMDA), with increased kainate receptors in cortical AD tissue.
- In vivo PET studies confirm reduced nicotinic receptors; SPECT indicates preserved muscarinic receptors. Peripheral lymphocytes show reduced nicotinic and muscarinic receptors.
Conclusions:
- Alzheimer disease exhibits significant neuroreceptor changes, including compensatory reactions in muscarinic (M1), kainate, and CRF receptors.
- In vivo imaging is crucial for understanding early AD neuroreceptor dynamics and developing diagnostic markers.
- Peripheral receptor analysis may offer additional insights into AD pathophysiology.