CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID NEUROPEPTIDES IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND VASCULAR DEMENTIA

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of several neuropeptides have been su ggested as candidate markers in neurodegenerative disorders, We have e xamined the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), beta-endo rphine (BEND), delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), somatostatin (SRIF ), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in CSF samples obtained under highly stand ardized conditions from healthy aged controls and from patients suffer ing from Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VAD). The infl uence of some potentially confounding factors was evaluated. CRH and B END were markedly decreased in both AD and VAD patients, and BEND leve ls correlated negatively with degree of dementia within the patient po pulation, SRIF was decreased in both AD and VAD patients, DSIP was sli ghtly increased in AD, but not in VAD. NPY did not differ between grou ps, For none of the peptides did CSF concentrations correlate signific antly with duration of illness, nov, with the exception of BEND, with its degree. Present data do not support the hypothesis that specific n europeptide changes occur in different neurodegenerative disorders, bu t are in agreement with previous reports suggesting that neuropeptide systems are differentially affected by neurodegeneration.