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Spinal fluid CRF reduction in Alzheimer's disease
Neuropeptides
|November 1, 1986
Summary
Levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were lower in spinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared to controls. This suggests CRF neurons may play a secondary role in AD's development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with neurotransmitter abnormalities.
- Previous postmortem studies indicated reduced levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the cerebral cortex of AD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of CRF-immunoreactivity (CRF-I) in individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
- To compare CRF-I levels between AD patients and age-matched healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of CRF-immunoreactivity (CRF-I) in spinal fluid samples.
- Comparison of CRF-I levels between 16 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and 9 age-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower mean CRF-I levels were observed in Alzheimer's disease patients compared to controls.
- A trend for increasing CRF-I in successive spinal fluid aliquots, seen in controls, was absent in AD patients.
- CRF-I levels did not correlate with disease severity or cognitive test results.
Conclusions:
- Cerebrospinal fluid CRF-I levels are diminished in Alzheimer's disease.
- The findings suggest that CRF-containing neurons may have a secondary role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, rather than a primary one.