SOMATOSTATIN AND NEUROPEPTIDE-Y IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID - CORRELATIONSWITH SEVERITY OF DISEASE AND CLINICAL SIGNS IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE ANDFRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are the mos t common types of progressive neurodegenerative disorder in our catchm ent area. The distribution of cortical degeneration in FTD is mainly t he reverse of that in AD, while there are both differences and similar ities in the clinical characteristics. Somatostatin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) are neuropeptides with a widespread distribution in the human c erebral cortex. Somatostatin is involved in the regulation of hormone release from the anterior pituitary and may act as a neurotransmitter- moduiator. NPY is a potent anxiolytic neuropeptide. Somatostatin and N PY coexist in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and in amygdaloid com plexes. The present study of AD (n = 34) and FTD (n = 22) analyses the cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivit y and NPY-like immunoreactivity and correlates their levels to 54 diff erent clinical items, such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and depression. The CSF levels of the two neuropeptides somatostatin and N PY were significantly correlated in FTD (p < 0.02), but not in AD. Sev eral significant correlations to the clinical signs were found: in AD disorientation and dyspraxia, and in FTD agitation, irritability and r estlessness. Somatostatin showed a significant negative correlation wi th severity of dementia in AD (p < 0.013).