Platelet serotonin concentration and monoamine oxidase type B activity in female patients in early, middle and late phase of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder with unclear aetiology. Cognitive impairment in AD might be associated with altered serotonergic system. The aim of the study was to determine platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentrations and platelet monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) activity in patients with different severity of AD. Platelet 5-HT concentrations and MAO-B activity were determined spectrofluorimetrically in 74 female patients with AD (NINCDS-ADRDA, DSM-IV-TR criteria), subdivided according to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in three groups with a) 23 patients in early (MMSE scores 19-24), b) 23 patients in middle (MMSE 10-18), and c) 28 patients in late (MMSE 0-9) phase of AD, and in 49 age-matched healthy women. Platelet 5-HT concentrations and MAO-B activity were similar between all patients with AD and healthy subjects, but were significantly lower in patients in the late phase of AD than in other phases of AD, and in healthy controls. The significant correlations were found between MMSE scores and platelet 5-HT concentrations, MAO-B activity and age. Lower platelet 5-HT concentration and MAO-B activity in the late phase of AD suggested that these markers might indicate severity and/or clinical progress of AD.