[Determination of basal GH in dementias]

We have studied the plasmatic levels of the growth hormone (GH) in a control group consisting of 72 subjects with an average age of 69.7 +/- 8.4 years and in a group of 37 patients with an average age of 69.3 +/- 9.6, of which 28 were demented (15 with degenerative dementia and 13 with non-degenerative dementia); 8 suffered from Parkinson's disease, and the rest showed signs of failing memory due to age. When comparing the plasmatic levels of GH between the patients' group and the control group we did not find significant differences between the demented and the control group, nor between the sub-groups of non-degenerative dementia or of those suffering from Parkinson's disease, when compared to the control group. However, we did find a reduction of GH that was statistically significant in the sub-group of degenerative dementia and the control group. This reduction in GH plasmatic values indicates a specific alteration in this type of process, which may be of certain use when searching for a hormonal marker for degenerative type dementia.