Somatostatin and cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease--the relationship of cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin increase with clinical response to tetrahydroaminoacridine

Neurosci Lett. 1991 Sep 2;130(1):46-8. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(91)90223-g.

Abstract

We studied the effect of tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) on cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (CSF-SLI) in probable Alzheimer disease (AD) patients (n = 20) who took part in an open THA treatment trial. The maintenance dose (100 mg/day) was continued for 4 weeks. Samples of CSF were obtained before treatment and at the end of the treatment period. The CSF-SLI increased significantly (P = 0.01) in the responders for the treatment (increase of the Mini-Mental State Examination score greater than or equal to 3; n = 11), while the non-responders (n = 9) showed a significant decrease of CSF-SLI (P = 0.003). The change of CSF-SLI had also a significant correlation (P = 0.001) with neuropsychological performance. We conclude that the effects of of THA on the CSF-SLI may be due to presynaptic cholinergic or direct somatostatinergic stimulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Somatostatin / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Tacrine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Tacrine
  • Somatostatin