Valenti G
University of Parma, Italy.
Gerontology. 1996;42(5):241-56. doi: 10.1159/000213799.
The main object of this review is to describe the most significant alterations of neuropeptide patterns occurring in the brain and in the cerebral spinal fluid of demented patients and particularly of elderly patients with Alzheimer type dementia. The changes in concentration in the different brain areas are described along with their peripheral endocrine implications. Alterations in the synthesis and release of neuropeptides may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of dementia in elderly patients, in addition to the well known changes in classical neurotransmitter systems. Measurements of neuropeptide levels in cerebrospinal fluid or postmortem brain material as alleged biological markers for the diagnostic purpose, however, have produced controversial results. Neuropeptide changes in the demented brain show regional differences and are not specific and selective enough to differentiate between senile dementia, Alzheimer type dementia and other degenerative disorders.
本综述的主要目的是描述痴呆患者，尤其是患有阿尔茨海默型痴呆的老年患者大脑和脑脊液中神经肽模式的最显著变化。描述了不同脑区浓度的变化及其外周内分泌影响。除了经典神经递质系统中众所周知的变化外，神经肽合成和释放的改变可能在老年患者痴呆的发病机制中起重要作用。然而，将脑脊液或死后脑材料中的神经肽水平测量作为诊断目的的所谓生物标志物，其结果存在争议。痴呆大脑中的神经肽变化存在区域差异，且特异性和选择性不足以区分老年性痴呆、阿尔茨海默型痴呆和其他退行性疾病。
