title: The neurochemistry of Alzheimer type, vascular type and mixed type dementias compared.
abstract: We present the results of a meta-analysis of neurochemical changes in human post mortem brains of Alzheimer type (AD), vascular type (VD) and mixed type (MF) dementias, and matched controls based on 275 articles published between January 1980 and February 1994. Severity of degeneration between the different neurochemical systems is as follows, although ranking is difficult with regard to limited numbers of investigations in some neurochemical systems: Cholinergic system > serotonergic system > excitatory amino acids > GABAergic system > energy metabolism > NA > oxidative stress parameters > neuropeptides > DA. But, within a neurochemical system, degeneration is not evenly distributed. Spared parameters, e.g. muscarinic receptors and MAO-B, allow to make some suggestions for future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gsell
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Strein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riederer
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines