The facilitation of dopaminergic activity in the aged brain by (−)deprenyl. A proposal for a strategy to improve the quality of life in senescence

https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-6374(85)90001-6Get rights and content

Abstract

In the aging brain there is a loss of neurons compensated for by a proliferation of glial cells. Because of the increased B-type monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity present in the glia, dopaminergic and ‘trace aminergic’ modulation in the brain declines in senescence. The significant increase of the incidence of depression in the elderly, the age-dependent decline in male sexual vigor and the frequent appearance of parkinsonian symptoms in the latter decades of life might be attributed to a decrease of dopamine and ‘trace amines’ in the brain. The outlines of a drug strategy to counteract these biochemical lesions of aging by chronic administration of (−)deprenyl (Jumex®, Eldepryl®), a selective inhibitor of B-type MAO, which facilitates dopaminergic and ‘trace-aminergic’ activity in the brain, are forwarded.

The restitution and long-term maintenance of full scale sexual activity in aged male rats continuously treated with (−)deprenyl and the clinical observation that this drug prolongs in a statistically significant manner, the duration of the Parkinson's disease support the view that (−)deprenyl may improve deteriorating functions due to dopamine deficiency in the aging brain.

References (39)

  • D.S. Robinson et al.

    Aging, monoamines and monoamine oxidase level

    The Lancet

    (1972)
  • T.L. Mantle et al.

    The development of monoamine oxidase in rat liver and brain

    FEBS Lett.

    (1976)
  • A. Carlsson

    The impact of catecholamine research on medical science and practice

  • D.S. Robinson et al.

    Relation of sex and aging to monoamine oxidase activity of human brain, plasma and platelets

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1971)
  • A. Nies et al.

    Changes in monoamine oxidase with aging

  • J.C. Shih

    Monoamine oxidase in aging human brain

  • B. Eckert et al.

    Brain and platelet monoamine oxidase in schizophrenics and cycloid psychotics

    Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol.

    (1980)
  • C.J. Fowler et al.

    Titration of human brain monoamine oxidase A and B by clorgyline and 1-deprenyl

    N.-S. Arch. Pharmacol.

    (1980)
  • C.J. Fowler et al.

    The effect of age on the activity and molecular properties of human brain monoamine oxidase

    J. Neural Transm.

    (1980)
  • M. Strolin Benedetti et al.

    Differential changes in monoamine oxidase A and B activity in the aging brain

    J. Neurochem.

    (1980)
  • M.J. Ball

    Neuronal loss, neurofibrillary tangles and granulovascular degeneration in the hippocampus with aging and dementia. A quantitative study

    Acta Neuropathol. (Berlin)

    (1977)
  • A. Bertler

    Occurrence and localization of catecholamines in human brain

    Acta Physiol. Scand.

    (1961)
    A. Bertler

    Occurrence and localization of catecholamines in human brain

  • P. Riederer et al.

    Time course of nigrostriatal degeneration in Parkinson's disease

    J. Neural Transm.

    (1976)
  • P.S. Timiras et al.

    Physiological aging in the central nervous system

  • E.G. McGeer et al.

    Distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase in human and animal brain

    J. Neurochem.

    (1971)
  • C. Leering et al.

    Some remarks on the wish to die at life's end

    Akt. Gerontol.

    (1979)
  • A. Stenback

    A field study of depression in old age

    Akt. Gerontol.

    (1979)
  • C. Martin

    Sexual activity in the aging male

  • H. Ehringer et al.

    Verteilung von Noradrenalin und Dopamine (3-Hydroxytyramin) in Gehirn des Menschen und ihr Verhalten bei Erkrankungen des Extrapyramidalen Systems

    Klin. Wochenschrift.

    (1960)
  • Cited by (0)

    Paper presented at the 7th European Symposium on Basic Research In Gerontology, Budapest, Hungary, September 1–3, 1983.

    View full text