Evidence of a monoaminergic-cholinergic imbalance related to visual hallucinations in Lewy body dementia.
Senile dementia of Lewy body type is characterized clinically by a relatively acute onset of fluctuating memory loss and confusion, frequently accompanied by visual hallucinations. Neurochemical analyses of temporal cortex has revealed a distinction between hallucinating and nonhallucinating patients in both cholinergic and monaminergic transmitter activities. In contrast with the cholinergic enzyme choline acetyltransferase, which was more extensively reduced in hallucinating individuals, serotonergic S2 receptor binding and both dopamine and serotonin metabolites were significantly decreased in nonhallucinating cases. These results suggest that an imbalance between monaminergic and cholinergic transmitters is involved in hallucinogenesis in the human brain.
MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
E K
EK
Perry
E
E
Marshall
J
J
Kerwin
C J
CJ
Smith
S
S
Jabeen
A V
AV
Cheng
R H
RH
Perry
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014796:Visual Perception
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D007650:Ketanserin; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid