Immunological dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from Alzheimer's patients and apparently healthy elderly individuals were examined for interleukin-1 (IL-1) production. Our results indicate severely low production of IL-1 by patient's peripheral blood monocytes. The low production of IL-1 in vitro correlated with patients' symptoms and therapy with 1-acetamide,2-pyrrolidone (1a,2p). In addition to low IL-1 production, the number of autologous rosette forming cells (ARFC) was significantly decreased in all Alzheimer's patients whereas B-cell glucose metabolism was significantly higher than age-matched healthy individuals.