In vitro determination of brain glucose metabolism in the temporal cor
tex from patients with Alzheimer's disease showed a marked decrease wh
en compared with nondemented, age-matched control subjects. Additional
determinations on normal human temporal cortex obtained at autopsy de
monstrated an age-dependent decline in the rate of glucose use. These
data provide an in vitro correlate for positron emission tomography st
udies that suggest decreased brain glucose use in Alzheimer's disease.