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Nerve growth factor affects11C-nicotine binding, blood flow, EEG, and verbal episodic memory in an Alzheimer patient (Case Report)

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Journal of Neural Transmission - Parkinson's Disease and Dementia Section

Summary

Based on animal research suggesting that nerve growth factor (NGF) can stimulate central cholinergic neurons, the known losses of cholinergic innervation of the cortices in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and our experience of infusing NGF to support adrenal grafts in parkinsonian patients, we have initiated clinical trials of NGF infusions into the brain of patients with AD. Here we report a follow-up of our first case, a 69-year-old woman, with symptoms of dementia since 8 years. Intraventricular infusion of 6.6 mg NGF during three months resulted in a marked transient increase in uptake and binding of11C-nicotine in frontal and temporal cortex and a persistent increase in cortical blood flow as measured by PET as well as progressive decreases of slow wave EEG activity. After one month of NGF, tests of verbal episodic memory were improved whereas other cognitive tests were not. No adverse effects could be ascribed to the NGF infusion. Taken together, the results of this case study indicate that NGF may counteract cholinergic deficits in AD, and suggest that further clinical trials of NGF infusion in AD are warranted.

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Author notes

  1. L. Olson

    Present address: Department of Histology and Neurobiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, Sweden

    A. Nordberg

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    H. von Holst & B. Meyerson

  3. Section of Psychology, Stockholm Gerontology Research Center and Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    L. Bäckman, K. Amberla & A. Herlitz

  4. Department of Developmental Biology, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, Sweden

    T. Ebendal

  5. Department of Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

    I. Alafuzoff

  6. Uppsala University PET Center, UAS, Uppsala, Sweden

    P. Hartvig, A. Lilja, H. Lundqvist & B. Långström

  7. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Sweden

    A. Persson

  8. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden

    M. Viitanen, B. Winblad & Å. Seiger

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  1. L. Olson
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  10. A. Lilja
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Olson, L., Nordberg, A., von Holst, H. et al. Nerve growth factor affects11C-nicotine binding, blood flow, EEG, and verbal episodic memory in an Alzheimer patient (Case Report). J Neural Transm Gen Sect 4, 79–95 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257624

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