Homovanillic Acid and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Senile Dementia, Presenile Dementia and Parkinsonism

Four groups, one of healthy volunteers, one of senile dementia, one of presenile dementia, and one of patients with parkinsonism were compared according to the values of HVA and 5‐HIAA in CSF. The levels of HVA and 5‐HIAA were highest in the group of healthy volunteers and decreased in the following order: senile dementia, presenile dementia, and parkinsonism. In the groups the two metabolites were positively correlated. These results are in agreement with earlier investigations showing disturbances of monoamine metabolism in the brain of patients suffering from these syndromes.