CSF monamine metabolites in movement disorders and normal aging
S. M. Stahl, K. F. Faull, J. D. Barchas and P. A. Berger
We measured four monoamine metabolite levels in CSF before and after
probenecid administration to normal controls and to patients with
Huntington's disease (HD), dystonia, and tardive dyskinesia. We identified
differences only for the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), which
showed increased baseline values and decreased turnover in normal aging,
but decreased baseline values and normal turnover in HD. These results
suggest that dopamine neurons are linked both to normal aging and to HD and
that CSF HVA studies can distinguish differences in the functioning of
dopamine neurons in normal aging and HD.
