HIGHER CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID MHPG IN SUBJECTS WITH DEMENTIA OF THE ALZHEIMER-TYPE - RELATIONSHIP WITH COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION

The authors sought to determine the relationships between cerebrospina l fluid (CSF) levels of three neurotransmitter monoamine metabolites a nd cognitive function. CSF was collected from subjects with dementia o f the Alzheimer's type ([DAT] n = 28) and control subjects (n = 10) fo r determination of CSF 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), 3-methoxy -4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG), and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels. Al l subjects underwent systematic assessment to determine cognitive func tion. Subjects with DAT had higher concentrations of CSF MHPG. In the overall sample, cognitive function was inversely correlated with CSF l evels of MHPG but not with 5-HIAA or HVA. Within the DAT sample, these correlations did not achieve significance.