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Striatal function in normal aging: Implications for Parkinson's disease

Journal Article · · Annals of Neurology; (USA)
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Hammersmith Hospital, London (England)
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Central to several current theories of the etiology of Parkinson's disease is the premise that the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system degenerates with normal aging. Much of the evidence for this assertion has come from postmortem neurochemical studies. We have used L-6-({sup 18}F) fluoro-Dopa and positron emission tomography in 26 healthy volunteers (age range, 27-76 years) to examine striatal and frontal cortical tracer uptake. Data have been analyzed by using a graphical approach to calculate an influx constant (Ki) for L-6-({sup 18}F)fluoro-Dopa uptake into the caudate, putamen, and medial frontal cortex of each subject. In the population studied, there was no decline in Ki with age for any of these structures. A series of physiological measurements made on the older subjects also showed few significant changes with age. The positron emission tomographic findings demonstrate preservation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in normal aging. The pathological process causing Parkinson's disease may operate closer to the time of presentation than has been suggested.

OSTI ID:
6055416
Journal Information:
Annals of Neurology; (USA), Journal Name: Annals of Neurology; (USA) Vol. 28:6; ISSN ANNED; ISSN 0364-5134
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AGED ADULTS
AMINES
AROMATICS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
BRAIN
CARDIOTONICS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CEREBRAL CORTEX
CEREBRUM
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DOPAMINE
DRUGS
EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
ETIOLOGY
FLUORINE 18
FLUORINE ISOTOPES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
POSITRON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
RADIOISOTOPES
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
TOMOGRAPHY
UPTAKE