Platelet MAO-B activity and vitamin B12 in old age dementias.
Platelet MAO-B activity, serum vitamin B12 levels, and plasma folate were measured in patients suffering from presenile (AD) and senile (SDAT) dementia of Alzheimer-type, and vascular dementia (VD). MAO-B was higher in the SDAT group than in AD and controls. An inverse relationship between MAO-B activity and vit. B12 levels was documented in the whole group and in each category studied; furthermore, MAO-B was positively related to age. All the patients were then divided into two groups, according to vit. B12 levels (Group I: less than 200 pg/mL; Group II: greater than or equal to 200 pg/mL); Group I showed a significantly higher MAO-B activity with respect to Group II. The results indicate the existence of a negative association between platelet MAO-B activity and serum levels of vitamin B12 and confirm the existence of biological differences between presenile and senile dementia of Alzheimer type.
Parnetti
L
L
Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Perugia University, Italy.
Mecocci
P
P
Reboldi
G P
GP
Santucci
C
C
Brunetti
M
M
Gaiti
A
A
Cadini
D
D
Senin
U
U
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
D005492:Folic Acid; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D014805:Vitamin B 12