Peripheral catecholamine enzyme function and cognitive impairment of elderly schizophrenics and controls.
Alterations of peripheral and central catecholamine systems are found in both schizophrenic and demented subjects. Reported here are the results of bivariate and multivariate analyses of cognitive function and peripheral catecholamine enzyme activities in a group of elderly schizophrenic patients and controls. The entire sample shows an inverse relationship of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity with cognitive impairment after controlling for the effects of age, race, and gender. Schizophrenic subjects also demonstrated an inverse relationship of plasma dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH) activity with cognitive impairment. Demented subjects were characterized in both groups as having increments in platelet MAO activity. Demented schizophrenic subjects also were characterized by increments in plasma DBH activity. Results from this sample are discussed with respect to findings from other studies and future research.
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D003704:Dementia / Q000201:enzymology; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology*; D012737:Sex Factors
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase