INTRACRANIAL INFUSION OF PURIFIED NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR TO AN ALZHEIMERPATIENT - THE 1ST ATTEMPT OF A POSSIBLE FUTURE TREATMENT STRATEGY

We report on the clinical outcome of a first case of intracranial infu sion of nerve growth factor (NFG) to an Alzheimer patient. The therape utic attempt is based on animal research showing that NGF stimulates c entral cholinergic neurons of the type known to be lost during the dev elopment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, our own previous cl inical experience of infusing NGF to support the survival of intracran ially transplanted adrenal chromaffin cells to Parkinsonian patients i ndicate this approach to be technically possible and safe and clinical ly of significant potential. Our first case was a 69-year-old woman, w ith symptoms of dementia since 8 years. Intraventricular infusion of 6 ,6 mg NGF over three months resulted in a marked transient increase in uptake and binding of [C-11]nicotine in frontal and temporal cortex a nd a persistent increase in cortical blood flow as measured by PET as well as progressive decreases of slow wave EEG activity. After one mon th of NGF infusion, tests of verbal episodic memory were improved wher eas other cognitive tests were not. No adverse effects of the NGF infu sion were found. The results of this single case indicate that NGF may counteract cholinergic deficits in AD, and suggest that further clini cal trials of NGF infusion in AD are warranted.