The effect of aging on the D1 dopamine receptors in human frontal cortex.

Dopaminergic pathways to the cerebral cortex may be involved in cognitive function. We examined the effect of aging on the D1 dopamine receptors, and their high-agonist affinity (RH) sites, in postmortem human frontal cortex (n = 32; age range, 19-88 years). With aging, there was a significant decrease in the densities of the D1 dopamine receptors, and their RH sites, in human frontal cortex. The age-related reduction of cortical dopaminergic neurotransmission might contribute to the decline in cognitive abilities of elderly persons.