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Fluctuations in plasma dopamine level impair memory in Parkinson's disease

Departments of Neurology (Drs. Huber, Paulson, and Shuttleworth) and Psychology (Dr. Shulman), Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

We found a causal relationship between variation in plasma dopamine level and memory impairment in Parkinson's disease. If the level of dopamine was changed between the time of original learning and a later time of attempted memory retrieval, memory performance was impaired when compared with a maintenance of similar dopamine levels on both occasions. The absolute level of dopamine did not influence memory performance. Side-effects of levodopa-carbidopa therapy include variation in dopamine level, parkinsonian symptoms, and possibly "sate-dependent" impairment of memory.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Huber, Department of Neurology, 439 Means Hall, 1655 Upham Drive, Columbus, OH 43210.

Supported in part by a grant from the United Parkinson Foundation.

Presentd in part at the thirty-eighth annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, New Orleans, LA, April 1986.

Received August 25, 1986. Accepted for publication in final form November 6, 1986.