ERYTHROCYTE AGING CHARACTERISTICS IN ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WITH BEGINNING DEMENTIA

An increase in erythrocyte-bound IgG and enhanced breakdown of the ery throcyte anion exchanger band 3, characteristics of normal erythrocyte aging, are observed in old, healthy individuals when compared with yo ung donors. These findings indicate that the rate of cellular aging in creases with organismal aging. Results from previous studies on the sa me parameters have suggested that the erythrocyte aging profess is dis turbed in patients in advanced stages of Alzheimer type dementia, and in individuals with Down's syndrome who show no signs of dementia. In this study we find no changes in erythrocyte aging parameters in old i ndividuals in beginning stages of dementia of various etiologies. We c onclude that, in general, characteristics of disturbed erythrocyte agi ng cannot serve as presymptomatic markers of Alzheimer-type dementia. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.