Can lower Serotonin Levels be indicative to onset of Dementia

DALTON HILL – Alzheimer’s disease  is the leading cause of Dementia. Almost 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 65 are living with this disease. Progression of this neurodegenerative disease impairs mental functionality and interferes with fundamental physical ability. The most common symptoms are loss of memory, confusion, difficulty performing daily tasks, trouble understanding, and decline in overall health. 

It is quite perplexing to see the progression of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. There is no one basis of causation. The key players of causes of the two disorders is age, heredity, and other illnesses linked to the brain. 

A study being conducted at Johns Hopkins is looking at a potential link between lower brain Serotonin levels and Dementia. Serotonin can act as a hormone and neurotransmitter. It is pivotal chemical in regulating mood, well-being, eating, and sleeping habits. Serotonin affects numerous aspects of the human body. However, it is commonly found in the brain. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have indicated that the loss of serotonin may not just be a result of Dementia, but rather a cause. For this specific study, those with impaired cognitive function were recruited, along with an unimpaired control group. 

Those that participated in the study were tested to quantify the amount of serotonin transporters and overall function of the brain. Each partaker was given a mock antidepressant, which was radioactively labeled. This was utilized to determine the functionality of the serotonin transport (SERT), which is crucial for the transportation of serotonin released from the synaptic cleft back to the presynaptic terminal. It was determined that those with lower cognitive ability had less serotonin to their counterparts. Memory and learning tests were then conducted, and there was a parallel between serotonin levels and performance. Those with lower serotonin levels did worse and the activities than those with normal levels. 

This research is groundbreaking. With the number of people with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a target receptor could be focused upon instead of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIS). SSRIS are typically used to treat depression by increasing serotonin levels. This research could potentially give a new route to treating and preventing the onset of Dementia and Alzheimer’s. 

Photography Source: Bianca Patel, https://www.homeinstead.ca/448/blog/serotonin