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Physostigmine in Alzheimer's disease: effects on cognitive functioning, cerebral glucose metabolism analyzed by positron emission tomography and cerebral blood flow analyzed by single photon emission tomography
Author(s) -
Tune L.,
Brandt J.,
Frost J. J.,
Harris G.,
Mayberg H.,
Steele C.,
Burns A.,
Sapp J.,
Folstein M. F.,
Wagner H. N.,
Pearlson G. D.
Publication year - 1991
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.1600-0447.1991.tb03111.x
Subject(s) - positron emission tomography , cerebral blood flow , single photon emission computed tomography , emission computed tomography , alzheimer's disease , physostigmine , medicine , neuroimaging , blood flow , carbohydrate metabolism , anesthesia , disease , nuclear medicine , psychology , neuroscience , psychiatry , acetylcholine
The effect of acute, intravenous administration of physostigmine on measures of brain activity and cognitive functioning were investigated in 14 patients with Alzheimer's disease. Regional cerebral glucose metabolism was assessed using (18F)‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose and positron emission tomography, and cerebral blood flow was assessed using 123 I‐iodoamphetamine single photon emission tomography. Although physostigmine enhanced cerebral blood flow in most patients, only one patient showed significant clinical improvement. This patient, however, also showed a very pronounced improvement in cerebral glucose metabolism. It is concluded that these preliminary findings hold considerable promise for our appreciation of the pathophysiology of dementing illness as well as our understanding of centrally acting compounds of interest in Alzheimer's disease.