Striatal dopamine transporters correlate with simple reaction time in elderly subjects

The decline in motor performance that accompanies advanced age has unclear neurobiological substrates but may relate, in part, to degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine system. This research tested the hypothesis that striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in healthy elderly individuals was related to measures of motor performance. Thirty-six healthy volunteers (18 male, 18 female) who ranged in age from 68 to 88 (75.4 ± 4.9 years) received a neuropsychological evaluation that included two primary motor measures (tested with dominant hand): (1) simple reaction time (SRT); and (2) finger tapping (FT). Subjects underwent SPECT scanning with [ 123 I]2s-carbomethoxy-3s(4-iodophenyl)tropane ([ 123 I]s-CIT) for measurement of striatal DAT availability. A ratio of specific to nondisplaceable brain uptake (i.e.,