Forschungsdatenbank PMU-SQQUID

PMU-Autor/inn/en

Abstract

The pathogenesis of Alzheimerxxxs disease (AD) appears to involve several different mechanisms, the most consistent of which is an impairment of cholinergic neurotransmission; however, there is controversy about its relevance at the early stage of disease. A transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol based on coupling peripheral nerve stimulation with motor cortex TMS (short latency afferent inhibition, SAI) may give direct information about the function of some cholinergic pathways in the human motor cortex. We evaluated SAI in a group of patients with early diagnosis of AD and compared the data with that from a control group. The amount of SAI was significantly smaller in early AD patients than in controls. This study first provides physiological evidence that a central cholinergic dysfunction occurs in the earlier stages of AD. Identification of SAI abnormalities that occur early in the course of AD will allow earlier diagnosis and treatment with cholinergic drugs.

Useful keywords (using NLM MeSH Indexing)

Aged

Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology*

Alzheimer Disease/psychology

Electroshock

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Motor Cortex/physiology

Parasympathetic Nervous System/physiology

Peripheral Nervous System/physiology

Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*

Find related publications in this database (Keywords)