title: Decreased platelet serotonin concentration in Alzheimer's disease with involuntary emotional expression disorder.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder manifested by progressive decline in cognitive functions. A variety of behavioral disturbances appear very often in AD which might be associated with altered function of serotoninergic system. The aim of the study was to determine platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in 49 patients with AD (NINCDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV-TR criteria) subdivided in three groups: (a) patients with aggressive behavior, (b) patients with involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED) and (c) patients without aggression or IEED (controls). Platelet 5-HT concentrations were measured using ELISA. Platelet 5-HT concentrations were significantly lower in patients with AD and co-existing IEED compared to AD patients with aggressive behavior or control patients. No significant difference in platelet 5-HT concentrations was found between patients expressing aggressive behavior and controls. Our results suggest disruptions in serotoninergic system in AD patients with comorbid IEED but not with aggressive behavior and support the presumption that platelet 5-HT concentration is a suitable and easy measured peripheral indicator of some behavioral and psychological symptoms of AD.
authors: Psychiatric Hospital Begunje, Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Begunje na Gorenjskem 55, 4275 Begunje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia. Electronic address: tatjana.prokselj@pb-begunje.si.
authors: Tatjana
authors: T
authors: Prokšelj
authors: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Njegoševa 4, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Aleš
authors: A
authors: Jerin
authors: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Bijenicka 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Dorotea
authors: D
authors: Muck-Seler
authors: University Psychiatric Hospital Ljubljana, Gerontopsychiatric Department, Studenec 48, 1260 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: ales.kogoj@psih-klinika.si.
authors: Aleš
authors: A
authors: Kogoj
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin
keywords: Affective symptoms; Aggression, Blood platelets; Alzheimer's disease; Emotional disturbances; Serotonin