CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS OF NEUROTRANSMITTER-RECEPTOR STUDIES IN GERIATRIC NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

The use of ligand-binding methods to study neurotransmitter-receptor s ites has made its impact on almost all aspects of biological pursuits including research on aging and neurodegenerative diseases. In the pas t, most of the research in biochemical gerontology has largely centere d around changes in various neurotransmitters and enzymatic activities . The molecular basis of aging and neurodegeneration at the level of n eurotransmitter-receptor interactions has been highly appreciated in t he last two decades as a result of receptor binding studies. It is now possible to obtain information about the regional distribution of neu rotransmitter receptors in the brain, the pharmacological and biochemi cal characteristics of these sites, and the functional interrelationsh ips between different neuronal systems in normal and pathological cond itions. The passage of time after maturity is accompanied by measurabl e physiologic decline in virtually all systems. It is the aim of this work to discuss the practical aspects of neurotransmitter and/or drug (ligand)-receptor binding studies, highlighting some examples of their applications to geriatric neuropharmacology research, with special co nsideration to learning impairment and memory loss in normal and in pa thological aging processes.