Neurotransmitter Receptors and Monoamine Metabolites in the Brains of Patients with Alzheimer-Type Dementia and Depression, and Suicides

Monoamine turnover & binding to monoamine & other receptors was investigated in patients with Alzheimer’s-type dementia (N=32), depressed inpatients (N=9), normal controls (N=35), & 17 adults who had committed suicide. Findings indicated a degeneration of the noradrenergic & serotonergic innervation of the cerebral cortices of subjects with dementia . There were no consistent changes in monamine metabolism in the inpatient & suicidal subjects. 54 refs.