Regional serotonin terminal density in aging human brain: A [11C]DASB PET study
Prabesh Kanel,
Robert A. Koeppe,
Vikas Kotagal,
Stiven Roytman,
Martijn L.T.M. Muller,
Nicolaas I. Bohnen,
Roger L. Albin
Affiliations
Prabesh Kanel
University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center of Excellence, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Dept. of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Robert A. Koeppe
University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Dept. of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Vikas Kotagal
Neurology Service and GRECC, VAAAHS, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States; Dept. of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Stiven Roytman
University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Dept. of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Martijn L.T.M. Muller
University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Dept. of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Nicolaas I. Bohnen
Neurology Service and GRECC, VAAAHS, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States; Dept. of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center of Excellence, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Dept. of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Roger L. Albin
Neurology Service and GRECC, VAAAHS, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States; Dept. of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center for Excellence in Parkinson’s Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation Research Center of Excellence, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Corresponding author at: 4009 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, United States. Ph.: 734-764-1347; Fax.: 734-763-7686.
There are conflicting results regarding regional age-related changes in serotonin terminal density in human brain. Some imaging studies suggest age-related declines in serotoninergic terminals and perikarya. Other human imaging studies and post-mortem biochemical studies suggest stable brain regional serotoninergic terminal densities across the adult lifespan. In this cross-sectional study, we used [11C]3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylsulfanyl)-benzonitrile positron emission tomography to quantify brain regional serotonin transporter density in 46 normal subjects, ranging from 25 to 84 years of age. Both voxel-based analyses, using sex as a covariate, and volume-of-interest-based analyses were performed. Both analyses revealed age-related declines in [11C]3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylsulfanyl)-benzonitrile binding in numerous brain regions, including several neocortical regions, striatum, amygdala, thalamus, dorsal raphe, and other subcortical regions. Similar to some other neurotransmitter systems of subcortical origin, we found evidence of age-related declines in regional serotonin terminal density in both cortical and subcortical regions.
