Elevated Dopamine Synthesis as a Mechanism of Cognitive Resilience in Aging.

ABSTRACT: Aging is associated with declines in multiple components of the dopamine system including loss of dopamine-producing neurons, atrophy of the dopamine system's cortical targets, and reductions in the density of dopamine receptors. Countering these patterns, dopamine synthesis appears to be stable or elevated in older age. We tested the hypothesis that elevation in dopamine synthesis in aging reflects a compensatory response to neuronal loss rather than a nonspecific monotonic shift in older age. We measured individual differences in striatal dopamine synthesis capacity in cognitively normal older adults using [18F]Fluoro-l-m-tyrosine positron emission tomography cross-sectionally and tested relationships with longitudinal reductions in cortical thickness and working memory decline beginning

SUBMITTER: Ciampa CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9247426 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature