Cognitive Deficit Induced by Acute Tryptophan Depletion in Patients With Alzheimers Disease

@article{citeulike:1115557, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The study assessed the effects on global cognitive function and mood of a reduction of brain serotonin by means of acute tryptophan depletion in 16 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and in 16 cognitively intact comparison subjects. METHOD: In a double-blind, crossover design, subjects received a tryptophan-free amino acid drink to induce acute tryptophan depletion and, on a separate occasion, a placebo drink containing a balanced mixture of amino acids. On each occasion, ratings of depressed mood were made at baseline and 4 and 7 hours later, and the Modified Mini-Mental State was administered at baseline and 4 hours later. RESULTS: Patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type had a significantly lower mean score on the Modified Mini-Mental State after acute tryptophan depletion than after receiving placebo. The comparison group showed no difference in mean score on the Modified Mini-Mental State after acute tryptophan depletion and after receiving placebo. No significant changes in mood were found in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Acute tryptophan depletion significantly impaired cognitive function in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. Compromised serotonergic function, in combination with cholinergic deficit, may make an important contribution to cognitive decline in dementia of the Alzheimer type. 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.4.638}, author = {Porter, Richard J. and Lunn, Brian S. and Walker, Lucy L. and Gray, John M. and Ballard, Clive G. and O’brien, John T. }, citeulike-article-id = {1115557}, journal = {Am J Psychiatry}, keywords = {alzheimers\_disease, tryptophan\_depletion}, month = {April}, number = {4}, pages = {638--640}, posted-at = {2007-02-21 03:28:26}, priority = {3}, title = {Cognitive Deficit Induced by Acute Tryptophan Depletion in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease}, url = {http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/157/4/638}, volume = {157}, year = {2000} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1115557 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1115557 TI - Cognitive Deficit Induced by Acute Tryptophan Depletion in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease JF - Am J Psychiatry VL - 157 IS - 4 SP - 638 EP - 640 N2 - OBJECTIVE: The study assessed the effects on global cognitive function and mood of a reduction of brain serotonin by means of acute tryptophan depletion in 16 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and in 16 cognitively intact comparison subjects. METHOD: In a double-blind, crossover design, subjects received a tryptophan-free amino acid drink to induce acute tryptophan depletion and, on a separate occasion, a placebo drink containing a balanced mixture of amino acids. On each occasion, ratings of depressed mood were made at baseline and 4 and 7 hours later, and the Modified Mini-Mental State was administered at baseline and 4 hours later. RESULTS: Patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type had a significantly lower mean score on the Modified Mini-Mental State after acute tryptophan depletion than after receiving placebo. The comparison group showed no difference in mean score on the Modified Mini-Mental State after acute tryptophan depletion and after receiving placebo. No significant changes in mood were found in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Acute tryptophan depletion significantly impaired cognitive function in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. Compromised serotonergic function, in combination with cholinergic deficit, may make an important contribution to cognitive decline in dementia of the Alzheimer type. 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.4.638 KW - alzheimers_disease KW - tryptophan_depletion AU - Porter, Richard AU - Lunn, Brian AU - Walker, Lucy AU - Gray, John AU - Ballard, Clive AU - O’brien, John PY - 2000/04/01/ UR - http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/157/4/638 ER -