Human aging brain disorders : Role of antioxidant enzymes

• Published in: Neurochemical research Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 885 - 888
• Main Authors: ROSARIO DE LA TORRE, M, CASADO, A, LOPEZ-FERNANDEZ, M. E, CARRASCOSA, D, CASADO, M. C, VENARUCCI, D, VENARUCCI, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-08-1996
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - enzymology; Brain - growth & development; Catalase - blood; Cerebrovascular Disorders - blood; Cerebrovascular Disorders - enzymology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia - blood; Dementia - enzymology; Erythrocytes - enzymology; Female; Hemolysis; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Parkinson Disease - blood; Parkinson Disease - enzymology; Reference Values; Sex Factors; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Human; Nervous system diseases; Alzheimer disease; Enzyme; Parkinson disease; Superoxide dismutase; Antioxidant; Free radical; Cerebral disorder; Peroxidases; Catalase; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Oxidoreductases; Extrapyramidal syndrome; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02532336

In order to investigate the role of two free radical detoxificant enzymes in patients with aging brain disorders, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities have been measured in blood from male and female human patients of different ages with several types of aging brain disorders. When compared with activities in the normal population, we have detected: 1) SOD and CAT activities are decreased in patients with Parkinson disease. 2) SOD activity seems to be normal and CAT activity is decreased in patients with dementia. 3) In the patients with stroke, SOD activity is normal, while CAT activity is decreased. SOD activity was measured in red blood cells using the Minami and Yoshikawa method. CAT activity was measured in hemolysates by the method of Aebi. We can conclude that SOD and CAT activities in patients with Parkinson disease are decreased.