CSFcholine levels ingroups ofpatients withcranial trauma orextrapyramidal disorders

Fromstudies oncholine metabolism inrabbits it appears that42%ofCSFcholine originates from plasma choline andtheremaining part fromplasma orbrain phospholipids, while nocontribution from acetylcholine metabolism inthebraincouldbe detected.' 2 Reported findings ofnormal CSFcholine levels in Parkinson's disease,3 4 Huntington's chorea45 and Alzheimer sdisease6 'suggest thatalso inhumans impaired central cholinergic activity isnotreflected intheCSFcholine levels. Part ofthepresent study is anattempt toconfirm these findings inParkinson's disease andHuntington's chorea. Accepting theviewthatCSFcholine levels are largely determined bybloodcholine levels andby choline derived fromthebreakdown ofphospholipids inthebrain, we mightexpect tofind abnormal CSFcholine levels inthose diseases in which disturbances oftheblood-brain barrier orof brainphospholipid metabolism may occur.We therefore measured alsoCSF choline levels in patients withcranial traumainwhomthebloodbrain barrier maybedisturbed,8 andinpatients with extrapyramidal disorders inwhom degenerative processes might beassumed.