ENZYMATIC CHANGES IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER-TYPE DEMENTIA

Previously, we reported protease changes in cerebral tissues, as well as in serum, of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia. In the present study, we investigated enzymatic activities in their cerebrospinal flu id. In the Alzheimer patients the activities of dipeptidyl peptidase I II (DPP-III), DPP-IV, and cathepsin B were significantly increased whe n compared with those of the control subjects. In vascular dementia pa tients the activities of Leu-AP and cathepsin B were increased but the activity of DPP-III was decreased. These results, as well as those of a multivariate study on these enzymatic changes, suggest the independ ency of the cerebral changes in the Alzheimer patients from those in v ascular dementia. The results may also be of use for clinical diagnose s of these pathologic states.