Neuropsychologia. 1988;26(6):895-902

Selective attention in Alzheimer's disease: CSF correlates of behavioral impairments

Freed DM, Corkin S, Growdon JH, Nissen MJ.

Abstract

CSF levels of HVA, 5-HIAA, and free MHPG, the major metabolites of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine respectively, were measured in 22 patients with AD. These 22 patients were also administered tests of picture-recognition and attentional focusing as part of an earlier experiment. A significant association between deficits in attentional focusing and reduced levels of free MHPG in CSF was noted. These results suggest that behavioral measures can identify patients with noradrenergic involvement.

PMID: 2461537