SERUM INTERLEUKIN-2 LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA OF THE ALZHEIMER TYPE

We examined serum interleukin 2 (IL-2) levels in 127 normal subjects and 22 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. There was no significant correlation between serum IL-2 levels and age. However, serum IL-2 levels in elderly normal subjects (older than 70 years of age) were significantly lower than in the younger normal subjects (younger than 30 years of age) (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum IL-2 levels between the patients with DAT and the age-matched normal controls. These results suggest that the changes of serum IL-2 levels in patients with DAT may be natural in the normal aging process.