This is a revised application for a competitive renewal of an investigation of behavioral/biochemical correlates in a common disease of aging, Parkinson's disease. This disorder affects nearly one and a half million persons in the North America. It is typically characterized by motor manifestations, but dementia and depression occur commonly in the illness. Prior studies by the current applicants have implicated a reduction in brain serotonin in association with depression in patients with Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, """"""""bradyphrenia"""""""", a form of intellectual impairment in this condition may be related to increase turnover of norepinephrine. In the current revised proposal we wish to expand our investigations by examining a putative peripheral maker of central nervous system serotonin, 3H-Imipramine binding capacity in platelets. Moreover, we will examine the relationship between the cerebrospinal fluid metabolite of serotonin: 5-HIAA, plasma 3H-Imipramine binding and depression. We will also begin a parallel design, placebo-controlled investigation of the precursor to serotonin, L-5-hydroxy tryptophan. We will also begin a parallel design, placebo-controlled, investigation of clonidine in patients with bradyphrenia as we have defined this clinical entity. We believe that this investigation will continue to critically examine and confirm behavioral/biochemical correlates in Parkinson's Disease. It will also foster our studies of the aging nervous system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG002802-09
Application #
3114545
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 2 (NEUB)
Project Start
1981-04-01
Project End
1992-06-30
Budget Start
1990-09-15
Budget End
1992-06-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10027
Stern, Y; Langston, J W (1985) Intellectual changes in patients with MPTP-induced parkinsonism. Neurology 35:1506-9