Reduced activities of thiamine-dependent enzymes in the brains and peripheral tissues of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • A report of cell loss in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in patients with Wernicke-Korsakoff disease prompted the examination of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)-dependent enzymes in the brain and peripheral tissues of patients with Alzheimer's disease. In these brains, the activities of the 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex were reduced more than 75% and those of transketolase more than 45%. Decreases occurred in histologically damaged and in relatively undamaged areas. Small but statistically significant abnormalities of transketolase, but not of 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, were identified in red blood cells and cultured fibroblasts. Previous studies have shown deficiencies in the brain and variable effects in peripheral tissues on another TPP-dependent enzyme--the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Activities of TPP-dependent enzymes appear to be deficient in the brain and perhaps in some peripheral tissues in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

publication date

  • August 1, 1988

Research

keywords

  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Brain
  • Ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complex
  • Ketone Oxidoreductases
  • Skin
  • Thiamine

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0023732664

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1001/archneur.1988.00520320022009

PubMed ID

  • 3395256

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 45

issue

  • 8