Striatal dopamine receptors in Alzheimer-type dementia

Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors were studied in putamen of post-mortem brains from controls and patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD). A significant reduction in dopamine D2 receptors was observed in ATD, whereas dopamine D1 receptors were unchanged. Neurochemical markers of striatal acetylcholine and GABA-containing neurones were also within the normal range. The results are consistent with a loss of D2 receptors located on cortico-striatal neurones in putamen of some ATD patients. In contrast, markers of intrinsic neurones may remain unchanged.