title: The noradrenergic system in Alzheimer and multi-infarct dementias.
abstract: The number of melanin containing nerve cells of the locus coeruleus and vagus nucleus is reduced in Alzheimer's disease by 60% with decrease of 22% in the protein synthetic capability of remaining cells. These changes are matched by reductions in brain noradrenaline in eight regions, averaging 36%. In multi-infarct dementia, however, all three of these features are unchanged. These findings indicate that degeneration of central noradrenergic nerve cells is a specific aspect of the pathogenic process underlying Alzheimer's disease.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D009454:Neurofibrils / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D009638:Norepinephrine