Evaluation of spinal cord motor function in Alzheimer's disease using electrophysiological techniques indicates association of acetylcholine receptors with the disease.

AIMS This study is to evaluate the spinal cord motor function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS In this study, 40 patients were diagnosed to have AD. The stages of dementia were evaluated using Mini Mental State Examination and Activity of Daily Living scale. According to the levels of movement disturbances, the patient group was further divided into dyskinesia subgroup (14 cases) and non-dyskinesia subgroup (26 cases). In addition, 45 age-matched healthy volunteers were included into the control group. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to evaluate motor function in the whole motor conduction pathway from motor cortex to target muscles. Electrophysiological studies were used to analyze the pyramidal tract and anterior horn neurons of the spinal cord. RESULTS The mean duration of F waves was prolonged, while no significant differences were found between AD patients and control subjects in parameters such as spinal cord motor conduction velocity, amplitude of motor-evoked potential, F-wave persistence, minimal latency of F-waves and maximal amplitude of F-waves. These data indicated that the excitability of the spinal cord was increased, and the number and function of pyramidal tract and anterior horn cells were integral. CONCLUSIONS The primary mechanism of AD is probably associated with acetylcholine receptors that may participate in the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These findings may provide new therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD.