Immunological tests and the diagnosis of dementia in elderly women.
Serum immunoglobulins and circulating antinuclear antibodies were assayed in 91 elderly female in-patients with dementia. Clinical criteria were used to distinguish a group with multi-infarct dementia from those with senile dementia of Alzheimer type and the results were compared with those of 19 age-matched controls. Dementia patients aged 85 and over had a higher prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (P less than 0.05) and those aged 90-95 had higher levels of IgA than younger age groups (P less than 0.025). IgG levels were higher than controls in the 'multi-infarct' group (P less than 0.025).
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007361:Intelligence Tests
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M