In vivo distribution of alfa 7 receptors in the Alzheimaer's disease

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25860707
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: TERADA tatsuhiro 浜松医科大学, メディカルフォトニクス研究センター, 助教 (80550178)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アルツハイマー病 / α7ニコチン受容体 / [11C]MeQAA-PET

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The α4β2 nAChRs are associated with learning and memory functions. Since we have developed a radiotracer for α7 nAChRs [11C]Me-QAA that can apply to humans in a positron emission tomography (PET) study, we here report the distribution of α7 nAChRs in the patients of Alzheimaer’s disease. Simultaneously after venous injection of [11C]Me-QAA, the dynamic scans for 60 minutes was performed. All subjects were evaluated with neuropsychological tests and conventional MRI. [11C]Me-QAA binds more to the cerebral cortex, especially medial and lateral temporal cortices. Age-related and cognitive-related correlations were found in [11C]Me-QAA BPND in the cholinergic projection regions. The appearance of [11C]Me-QAA over the cerebral cortex with dominancy of the limbic region suggests that α7 nAChRs engage more in memory and intellectual cognitive activity.

Free Research Field

臨床神経学