NUMBER OF PLATELET DENSE GRANULES VARIES WITH AGE, SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEMENTIA

In the present study we observed that the number of dense granules per platelet increases with age, attaining a maximum level above the age of about 40 years. Platelets of newborns apparently contain only a sma ll number of dense granules per platelet. The numbers of platelet dens e granules and platelet cell size in schizophrenic patients increase c ompared to age-matched healthy controls. In contrast, in Alzheimer-typ e dementia the number of platelet dense granules tends to decrease com pared to healthy persons.