This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

George S. Zubenko, MD, PhD; John Moossy, MD; Ursula Kopp

Arch Neurol. 1990;47(2):209-214.

Abstract
• Biogenic amine neurotransmitters and metabolites as well as choline acetyltransferase activity were quantified in eight brain regions from 37 demented patients, with or without major depression, and 10 controls with no history of dementia or depression. The middle frontal and temporal cortex, prosubiculum and entorhinal cortex of the hippocampus, substantia nigra, thalamus, amygdala, and caudate were examined. Demented patients with major depression exhibited a 10-fold to 20-fold reduction in the level of norepinephrine in the cortex, along with relative preservation of choline acetyltransferase activity in subcortical regions, compared with demented patients who were not depressed. Serotonin levels were reduced in all eight brain regions, but the reduction did not reach statistical significance in any region examined. A para-doxical increase in dopamine levels was observed in the entorhinal cortex of depressed, demented patients, although no consistent pattern of change in the level of this neurotransmitter emerged across brain regions. Our results indicate that the development of major depression in primary dementia is associated with a profile of concurrent neurochemical changes that is largely consistent with existing neurochemical hypotheses of idiopathic affective disorders, and qualitatively distinct from that associated with primary dementia.

Author Affiliations
From the Geriatric Health Services, Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pa (Dr Zubenko and Ms Kopp), and the Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh (Pa) School of Medicine (Dr Moossy).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 11, 1989.

Reprint requests to Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Room E-1230, 3811 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Dr Zubenko).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Research Agenda for DSM-V: Diagnostic Categories and Criteria for Neuropsychiatric Syndromes in Dementia
Jeste et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2006;19:160-171.
ABSTRACT  

Clinical and Biological Interactions in Affective and Cognitive Geriatric Syndromes
Alexopoulos
Focus 2004;2:236-238.
FULL TEXT  

Depressive symptoms, clinical AD, and cortical plaques and tangles in older persons
Wilson et al.
Neurology 2003;61:1102-1107.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Clinical and Biological Interactions in Affective and Cognitive Geriatric Syndromes
Alexopoulos
Am. J. Psychiatry 2003;160:811-814.
FULL TEXT  

A Collaborative Study of the Emergence and Clinical Features of the Major Depressive Syndrome of Alzheimer's Disease
Zubenko et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2003;160:857-866.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results From the Cardiovascular Health Study
Lyketsos et al.
JAMA 2002;288:1475-1483.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Psychosis of Alzheimer's disease is associated with elevated muscarinic M2 binding in the cortex
P. Lai et al.
Neurology 2001;57:805-811.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Role of Serotonin in the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Lanctôt et al.
J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosi. 2001;13:5-21.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Evidence for a Central Cholinergic Deficit in Myasthenia Gravis
FOTIOU and FOUNTOULAKIS
J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosi. 2000;12:514-515.
FULL TEXT  

Biochemical and Neurobehavioral Profile of CHF2819, a Novel, Orally Active Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor for Alzheimer's Disease
Trabace et al.
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2000;294:187-194.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pathophysiology of Secondary Depressions in the Elderly
Robinson et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1999;12:128-136.
ABSTRACT  

Association between Premorbid History of Depression and Current Depression in Alzheimer's Disease
Harwood et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1999;12:72-75.
ABSTRACT  

Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Decline in Nondemented Elderly Women: A Prospective Study
Yaffe et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:425-430.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Neurobiological correlates of a putative risk allele for Alzheimer's disease on chromosome 12q
Zubenko et al.
Neurology 1999;52:725-725.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Depression-Dementia Conundrum: Integrating Clinical and Epidemiological Perspectives
Meyers and Bruce
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998;55:1082-1083.
FULL TEXT  

Relationship of Cognitive and Functional Impairment to Depressive Features in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Payne et al.
J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosi. 1998;10:440-447.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Abnormal response to negative feedback in unipolar depression: evidence for a diagnosis specific impairment
Elliott et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 1997;63:74-82.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Biologic Markers and Neurochemical Correlates of Agitation and Psychosis in Dementia
Kirby and Lawlor
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1995;8:S2-S7.
ABSTRACT  

Locus Coeruleus Involvement in Huntington's Disease
Zweig et al.
Arch Neurol 1992;49:152-156.
ABSTRACT  

Neuropathologic and Neurochemical Correlates of Psychosis in Primary Dementia
Zubenko et al.
Arch Neurol 1991;48:619-624.
ABSTRACT  

Delusions, hallucinations and depression in Alzheimer's disease: A biological perspective
Flint
AM J ALZHEIMERS DIS OTHER DEMEN 1991;6:21-28.
ABSTRACT  

Depression in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Multi-Infarct Dementia
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1991;4:55-56.