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Dopaminergic therapy improves upper limb motor performance in aged rhesus monkeys
Author(s) -
Grondin Richard,
Zhang Zhiming,
Gerhardt Greg A.,
Gash Don M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/1531-8249(200008)48:2<250::aid-ana16>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , dopamine , upper limb , medicine , levodopa , lower limb , psychology , neuroscience , physical medicine and rehabilitation , parkinson's disease , surgery , disease
The potential of dopaminergic treatments to improve upper limb motor movements was tested in 7 aged rhesus monkeys using L ‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine ( L ‐dopa) or the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor 1‐2(bis[4‐fluorophenyl]methoxy]ethyl)‐4‐(3‐phenylpropyl) piperazine hydrochloride (GBR‐12909). Six young monkeys were studied for comparison. L ‐Dopa or GBR‐12909 improved upper limb motor performance by up to 40% in the aged animals. At this point their performance was comparable to that of young adults. Dopaminergic therapy could be useful in elderly humans experiencing declines in upper limb motor functions. Ann Neurol 2000;48:250–253