Chromosomes in Senile Dementia

¹ Chief of the Cytogenetic Laboratory, Arhus State Hospital, Risskov, Denmark

Chromosome analysis of 10 female patients with senile dementia, 10 controls the same age group, and 10 controls below the age of 40, showed a statistically significant higher percentage of hypodiploid cells in the patients with senile dementia aged 70+ compared with the control group aged 70+ (p<0.001). The percentage of hypodiploid cells was also found to be statistically significantly higher in the control group aged 70+ compared with the control group below the age of 40 (p<0.001).

It seems likely that the increased loss of chromosomes, presumably mainly X chromosomes in females with senile dementia is a basic part of the aetiology and pathogenesis of senile dementia. An increased loss of chromosome material due to either mitotic non-disjunction or chromosome lagging to the extent found in female patients with senile dementia might interfere with metabolic functions of different kind, leading to rapidly increasing dementia, and to rapidly increasing age processes and death.