FREE-RADICAL FORMATION IN AUTOPSY SAMPLES OF ALZHEIMER AND CONTROL CORTEX

The formation of free radicals in homogenates of frontal cortex from b rains taken at autopsy and verified histologically to be from five pat ients with Alzheimer's disease or from six age matched normal controls , was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. During incubation at 37 degrees C, the formation of free radicals by Alzheim er's samples was 22% higher (P < 0.05) than controls, Following incuba tion in the presence of ferrous sulfate (200 mu M), samples of Alzheim er's frontal cortex produced nearly 50% more free radicals than did co ntrols (P < 0.01). Although these post mortem in vitro observations ar e consistent with an increased free radical burden in tissue from pati ents with Alzheimer's disease, that comparable differences exist in vi vo between Alzheimer's patients and non-demented people remains to be demonstrated.