In vivo cholinergic circuit evaluation in frontotemporal and Alzheimer dementias

V Di Lazzaro; F Pilato; M Dileone; E Saturno; A Oliviero; C Marra; A Daniele; F Ranieri; G Gainotti; P A Tonali

doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000204183.26231.23

In vivo cholinergic circuit evaluation in frontotemporal and Alzheimer dementias

Neurology. 2006 Apr 11;66(7):1111-3. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000204183.26231.23.

Authors

V Di Lazzaro¹, F Pilato, M Dileone, E Saturno, A Oliviero, C Marra, A Daniele, F Ranieri, G Gainotti, P A Tonali

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica, Rome, Italy. vdilazzaro@rm.unicatt.it

PMID: 16606932
DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000204183.26231.23

Abstract

The test of short latency afferent inhibition (SAI) of the motor cortex is helpful in demonstrating dysfunction of central cholinergic circuits in Alzheimer disease (AD). The authors evaluated SAI in 20 patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and compared data with those from 20 patients with AD and 20 controls. SAI was normal in FTD, whereas it was reduced in AD. SAI may represent an additional tool to discriminate FTD from AD.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Afferent Pathways / physiopathology*
Aged
Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology*
Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Electrophysiology / methods
Female
Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term / physiology
Middle Aged
Neural Pathways / physiopathology*
Reaction Time / physiology
Reference Values
Temporal Lobe / physiopathology*

Substances

Cholinesterase Inhibitors