The hexose transporter of human erythrocytes in aging and Alzheimer dementia.

The hexose transporter protein of human erythrocyte membranes was investigated in aging and in demented patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) by assessing the D-glucose-displaceable binding of the ligand cytochalasin-B. We found no alteration in the hexose transporter of erythrocyte membranes in aging or in dementia of AD and PD. These findings indicate that the marked decrease in the density of hexose transporter that we previously reported in the cerebral cortex and brain microvessels in AD do not occur in erythrocyte membranes that have the highest density of the hexose transporter protein.