Disproportionate loss of noradrenergic and cholinergic neurons as cause of depression in Alzheimer's disease--a hypothesis.
Forty-two patients with neuropathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease, who had been examined prospectively, had a significant decrease of neuron numbers in the locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, and basal nucleus of Meynert compared to 10 age-matched, non-demented controls. A subgroup of 12 demented patients with a history of depression had significantly lower neuron numbers in the locus coeruleus and slightly higher neuronal density in the basal nucleus of Meynert. We hypothesize that a noradrenergic/cholinergic imbalance may promote the development of depressive features in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Förstl
H
H
Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Mannheim, Germany.
Levy
R
R
Burns
A
A
Luthert
P
P
Cairns
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000473:pathology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D013377:Substantia Innominata / Q000473:pathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology*