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Similar deficits of central histaminergic system in patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease
Schneider C, Risser D, Kirchner L, Kitzmüller E, Cairns N, Prast H, Singewald N, Lubec G.. Neuroscience letters, 1997-02-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plain-language summary
In order to study whether Alzheimer-like neuropathological changes involve the central histaminergic system we measured the concentration of histamine, its precursor histidine as well as the activity of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and histamine-N-methyl-transferase (HMT) in frontal cortex of aging Down syndrome (DS) patients, Alzheimer patients and control individuals. The study populations were also investigated for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, since reduced ChAT activity is an established biochemical hallmark in DS and Alzheimer disease (AD). HDC and ChAT activity were reduced in brains of both DS and Alzheimer patients versus control patients. Additionally, we observed a significant decrease of histamine levels in the DS group. Histamine levels in AD brains tended to be decreased. Histidine concentrations and HMT activities were comparable between the three groups. Thus, our results for the first time show histaminergic deficits in brains of patients with DS resembling the neurochemical pattern in AD. Neuropathological changes may be responsible for similar neurochemical alterations of the histaminergic system in both dementing disorders.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
In frontal cortex from aging Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease patients, histidine decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase activity were reduced compared with controls, and histamine levels were significantly decreased in the Down syndrome group. This is a post-mortem biochemical study showing similar deficits in both conditions and does not test treatment.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Schneider, C., Risser, D., Kirchner, L., Kitzmüller, E., Cairns, N., Prast, H., et al. (1997). Similar deficits of central histaminergic system in patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease. Neuroscience letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(97)13379-1
Vancouver
Schneider C, Risser D, Kirchner L, Kitzmüller E, Cairns N, Prast H, et al. Similar deficits of central histaminergic system in patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease. Neuroscience letters. 1997. doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(97)13379-1. PMID: 9148245.
BibTeX
@article{schneider1997-9148245,
author = {Schneider, C. and Risser, D. and Kirchner, L. and Kitzmüller, E. and Cairns, N. and Prast, H. and Singewald, N. and Lubec, G.},
title = {{Similar deficits of central histaminergic system in patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Neuroscience letters},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1016/s0304-3940(97)13379-1},
pmid = {9148245},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(97)13379-1}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- HDC and ChAT activity were reduced in brains of both DS and Alzheimer patients versus control patients.
- Additionally, we observed a significant decrease of histamine levels in the DS group.
- Thus, our results for the first time show histaminergic deficits in brains of patients with DS resembling the neurochemical pattern in AD.
Why it matters
In frontal cortex from aging Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease patients, histidine decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase activity were reduced compared with controls, and histamine levels were significantly decreased in the Down syndrome group. This is a post-mortem biochemical study showing similar deficits in both conditions and does not test treatment.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuroscience letters) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neuroscience Letters: journal h-index 267 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 72 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.3 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Gert Lübec: h-index 70 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Vienna: institution h-index 851 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9148245) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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