RESUMEN

ABSTRACT: The presynaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) modulates the uptake of dopamine by regulating its concentration in the central nervous system. We aimed to evaluate the DAT binding potential (DAT-BP) in a sample of healthy Brazilians through technetium-99 metastable TRODAT-1 single-photon emission computed tomography imaging.We selected 126 healthy individuals comprising 72 men and 54 women, aged 18 to 80 years. We conducted semi-quantitative evaluation in transaxial slices, following which we identified the regions of interest in the striatal region using the occipital lobe as a region of non-specific DAT-BP.We found a decrease in DAT-BP in healthy individuals aged over 30 years, culminating in a 42% mean reduction after 80 years. There was no difference in the decrease by age group between the right (linear regression test [R2] linear = 0.466) and left striatum (R2 linear = 0.510). Women presented a higher DAT-BP than men (women: R2 linear = 0.431; men: R2 linear = 0.457); nonetheless, their decrease by age group was equal to that in men.Our study sheds light on important DAT-BP findings in healthy Brazilian subjects. Our results will facilitate understanding of brain illnesses that involve the dopamine system, such as neuropsychiatric disorders.

Asunto(s)

Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Dopamina a través de la Membrana Plasmática/metabolismo , Compuestos de Organotecnecio , Radiofármacos , Tomografía Computarizada de Emisión de Fotón Único/métodos , Tropanos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Brasil , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valores de Referencia , Adulto Joven