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Low B 12 levels related to high activity of platelet MAO in patients with dementia disorders
Author(s) -
Regland B.,
Gottfries C.G.,
Oreland L.,
Svennerholm L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1988.tb06366.x
Subject(s) - homovanillic acid , medicine , dementia , cerebrospinal fluid , endocrinology , vascular dementia , alzheimer's disease , platelet , gastroenterology , serotonin , disease , receptor
In 35 patients with Alzheimer's presenile disease (AD), 56 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), 54 patients with vascular dementia (VD) and 10 patients with confusional states, age, vitamin B 12 in serum, P‐folate, B‐folate and B‐Hb were investigated. Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), 5‐hydroxyin‐doleacetic acid and 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol were measured. Group differences showed that vitamin B 12 levels were reduced in the group of patients with confusional states and SDAT. Five out of ten and 13 out of 56 (respectively) had vitamin B 12 concentrations below the lower limit of the reference value (130 pmol/1). A negative correlation was found between B 12 levels and platelet MAO activity. The findings indicate that there is a subgroup of patients with late‐onset dementia that has low vitamin B 12 blood concentrations. HVA levels in CSF, usually found to be reduced in AD patients, were normal in this subgroup.