Title: Cholinergic Dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease: Cause or Effect?
Abstract: Publisher Summary Central cholinergic deficits are the cause of the intellectual impairments that characterize the clinical syndrome. The chapter shows that cholinergic dysfunction is associated with DAT. The dysfunction fits into the chain of pathogenesis. If the cholinergic impairment is not the primary etiologic factor, the cholinergic hypothesis of DAT has been most productive in stimulating ideas, research, and possible treatments. Indeed, treatment approaches that utilize cholinergic agents may prove to be valuable in DAT regardless of the ultimate etiology. The pharmacologic treatments are designed to enhance cholinergic transmission in the hope of improving cognitive function in the affected individuals. The success of cholinomimetic treatments depends on the integrity of the postsynaptic cholinergic receptor system. There have been three main approaches to improving presynaptic cholinergic function: (1) precursor therapy, using drugs to increase the presynaptic synthesis of ACh (analogous to the use of L-dopa in Parkinson disease), (2) cholinergic receptor agonists (e.g. arecoline), and (3) anticholinesterase agents, to decrease the breakdown of ACh.
Publication Year: 1986
Publication Date: 1986-01-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 23
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