CORRELATION BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL-ACTIVITY OF BLOOD-LYMPHOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIAS OF ALZHEIMERS TYPE AND THEIR REACTION TO THERAPY

16 patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) were examined. Fun ctional activity of lymphocytes was determined according to proliferat ing activity of T-lymphocytes, production of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and estimation of subpopulations of T-leukocytes (T-helpers, T-supressors) . The patients were observed both before and 1-2,5 months after amirid in therapy. Considerable reduction of both IL-1 production and prolife rating activity of T-lymphocytes was observed after the treatment in 8 patients of 11. Their cognitive functioning after the therapy was eit her improved or stable by the moment of repeated observation. It is qu ite important that initial functional activity of lymphocytes was cons iderably higher in this group of patients as compared with the age-mat ched controls. Change for the worse in cognitive functions by the mome nt of the second examination was accompanied in 5 patients with an inc rease in IL-1 production as compared to the initial level. It is propo sed that high level of IL-1 production by blood lymphocytes may be use d as a criterion in selection of DAT patients for amiridin therapy.