title: Cholinergic receptors in human brain: effects of aging and Alzheimer disease.
abstract: A general review of cholinergic receptors in human brain is presented. The paper focuses upon changes in normal aging brain and in Alzheimer disease. Studies from five different approaches are reported: 1) molecular biology; 2) receptor binding studies; 3) studies with specific neurotoxins; 4) immunocytochemistry; and 5) PET scan. These studies document profound and characteristic differences between the normal aging and the pathological Alzheimer brain with regard to cholinergic receptor localization, distribution, and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacobini
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic