Dataset Information

Increased striatal dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability and delusions in Alzheimer disease.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Dysfunction within corticostriatal dopaminergic neurocircuitry has been implicated in neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the symptom domains delusions and apathy would be associated with striatal dopamine (D2) receptor function in AD.

Methods

In vivo dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability was determined with [(11)C]raclopride (RAC) PET in 23 patients with mild and moderate probable AD. Behavioral symptoms were measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Apathy Inventory. Imaging data were analyzed using a region-of-interest approach. The potential confounding effects of age, sex, and disease stage were explored using a linear mixed model. Correlational and independent samples comparisons were used to examine the relationship between behavioral and binding potential (BP(ND)) measures.

Results

Mean [(11)C]RAC BP(ND) was higher in patients with delusions (n = 7; 5 men) than in patients without delusions (n = 16; 6 men) (p = 0.006). When women were excluded from the analysis, [(11)C]RAC BP(ND) was higher in men with delusions than in men without delusions (p = 0.05). Apathy measures showed no association with [(11)C]RAC BP(ND).

Conclusions

Striatal dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability is increased in Alzheimer disease patients with delusions, to an extent comparable to that observed in drug-naive patients with schizophrenia. Whether this represents up-regulation of dopamine (D2) or possibly dopamine (D3) receptors and how this relates to responsivity of the striatal dopaminergic system merit further exploration.

SUBMITTER: Reeves S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2818181 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Increased striatal dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability and delusions in Alzheimer disease.

Reeves Suzanne S Brown Richard R Howard Robert R Grasby Paul P

Neurology 20090201 6

<h4>Objective</h4>Dysfunction within corticostriatal dopaminergic neurocircuitry has been implicated in neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the symptom domains delusions and apathy would be associated with striatal dopamine (D2) receptor function in AD.<h4>Methods</h4>In vivo dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability was determined with [(11)C]raclopride (RAC) PET in 23 patients with mild and moderate probable AD. Behavioral ...[more]

PMID: 19204262

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Project description:The role of the protein kinase Akt1 in dopamine neurotransmission is well recognized and has been implicated in schizophrenia and psychosis. However, the extent to which variants in the AKT1 gene influence dopamine neurotransmission is not well understood. Here we investigated the effect of a newly characterized variant number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in AKT1 [major alleles: L- (eight repeats) and H- (nine repeats)] on striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor (DRD2) availability and on dopamine release in healthy volunteers. We used PET and [11C]raclopride to assess baseline DRD2 availability in 91 participants. In 54 of these participants, we also measured intravenous methylphenidate-induced dopamine release to measure dopamine release. Dopamine release was quantified as the difference in specific binding of [11C]raclopride (nondisplaceable binding potential) between baseline values and values following methylphenidate injection. There was an effect of AKT1 genotype on DRD2 availability at baseline for the caudate (F(2,90) = 8.2, p = 0.001) and putamen (F(2,90) = 6.6, p = 0.002), but not the ventral striatum (p = 0.3). For the caudate and putamen, LL showed higher DRD2 availability than HH; HL were in between. There was also a significant effect of AKT1 genotype on dopamine increases in the ventral striatum (F(2,53) = 5.3, p = 0.009), with increases being stronger in HH > HL > LL. However, no dopamine increases were observed in the caudate (p = 0.1) or putamen (p = 0.8) following methylphenidate injection. Our results provide evidence that the AKT1 gene modulates both striatal DRD2 availability and dopamine release in the human brain, which could account for its association with schizophrenia and psychosis. The clinical relevance of the newly characterized AKT1 VNTR merits investigation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The AKT1 gene has been implicated in schizophrenia and psychosis. This association is likely to reflect modulation of dopamine signaling by Akt1 kinase since striatal dopamine hyperstimulation is associated with psychosis and schizophrenia. Here, using PET with [11C]raclopride, we identified in the AKT1 gene a new variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) marker associated with baseline striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability and with methylphenidate-induced striatal dopamine increases in healthy volunteers. Our results confirm the involvement of the AKT1 gene in modulating striatal dopamine signaling in the human brain. Future studies are needed to assess the association of this new VNTR AKT1 variant in schizophrenia and drug-induced psychoses.

Dataset Information

Increased striatal dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability and delusions in Alzheimer disease.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Increased striatal dopamine (D2/D3) receptor availability and delusions in Alzheimer disease.

Similar Datasets

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