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| Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2002): |
Nicotinic receptors in aging and dementia.
Full Abstract
Activation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) has been shown to maintain cognitive function following aging or the development of dementia. Nicotine and nicotinic agonists have been shown to improve cognitive function in aged or impaired subjects. Smoking has also been shown in some epidemiological studies to be protective against the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This is supported by animal studies that have shown nicotine to be neuroprotective both in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with nicotinic agonists may therefore be useful in both slowing the progression of neurodegenerative illnesses, and improving function in patients with the disease. While increased nicotinic function has been shown to be beneficial, loss of cholinergic markers is often seen in patients with dementia, suggesting that decreased cholinergic function could contribute to both the cognitive deficits, and perhaps the neuronal degeneration, associated with dementia. In this article we will review the literature on each of these areas. We will also present hypotheses that might address the mechanisms underlying the ability of nAChR function to protect against neurodegeneration or improve cognition, two potentially distinct actions of nicotine.Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Author information
Author/s: Picciotto, Marina R (MR); Zoli, Michele (M);
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06508, USA. marina.picciotto(-atsign-)yale.edu
Grants: DA00436 (Agency:United States NIDA) ; DA10455 (Agency:United States NIDA) ; DA14241 (Agency:United States NIDA) ; DA84733 (Agency:United States NIDA)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review
Journal: Journal of neurobiology (J Neurobiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2002-Dec; vol 53 (issue 4) : pp 641-55
Dates: Created 2002/11/18; Completed 2003/01/13; Revised 2007/11/14;
PMID: 12436427, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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