Selegiline treatment and the extent of degenerative changes in brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
A beneficial effect of selegiline (L-deprenyl) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been reported in several clinical studies.


METHODS
The brain tissue from 17 deceased patients, members of a double-blind clinical trial to assess the potential benefit of selegiline in AD, were analysed.


RESULTS
In our study, the decrease in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores during the progress of the disease had been significantly influenced by selegiline treatment. Prior to death, the MMSE scores were significantly higher in those patients receiving selegiline than in those receiving placebo. However, according to our results, none of the lesions critical for AD diagnosis, such as counts of senile/neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles or beta-A4 load, were influenced by the selegiline treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, according to our study, mechanisms other than neuronal degeneration seen as lesions critical for AD diagnosis are influenced by selegiline treatment, leading to the functional benefit found in AD.
Alafuzoff
I
I
Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, Kuopio University, Finland. irina.alafuzoff@uku.fi
Helisalmi
S
S
Heinonen
E H
EH
Reinikainen
K
K
Hallikainen
M
M
Soininen
H
H
Koivisto
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001344:Autopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012642:Selegiline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D051843:Synucleins; D013997:Time Factors; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051843:Synucleins; D016875:tau Proteins; D012642:Selegiline