Central catecholamines, cognitive impairment, and affective state in elderly schizophrenics and controls

Central catecholamine concentrations were determined in autopsy samples from older schizophrenic and control subjects for both the hypothalamus and the nucleus accumbens. The results of these analyses and demographic variables were regressed on antemortem measures of cognitive function and mood state. In the hypothalamus, there are significant direct relationships of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) with depressed mood, as measured by an adaptation of the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression. In the nucleus accumbens, dopamine (DA) and MHPG had significant inverse relationships with antemortem cognitive function, as measured by an adaptation of the Mini Mental State Exam. Results in this sample indicate that after controlling for age, the catecholamine concentrations accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in the antemortem measures of mood or cognition, depending on the loci measured.