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Dávila G, Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D, Berthier ML. Turning the Spotlight to Cholinergic Pharmacotherapy of the Human Language System. CNS Drugs 2023; 37:599-637. [PMID: 37341896 PMCID: PMC10374790 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01017-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Even though language is essential in human communication, research on pharmacological therapies for language deficits in highly prevalent neurodegenerative and vascular brain diseases has received little attention. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that disruption of the cholinergic system may play an essential role in language deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment, including post-stroke aphasia. Therefore, current models of cognitive processing are beginning to appraise the implications of the brain modulator acetylcholine in human language functions. Future work should be directed further to analyze the interplay between the cholinergic system and language, focusing on identifying brain regions receiving cholinergic innervation susceptible to modulation with pharmacotherapy to improve affected language domains. The evaluation of language deficits in pharmacological cholinergic trials for Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment has thus far been limited to coarse-grained methods. More precise, fine-grained language testing is needed to refine patient selection for pharmacotherapy to detect subtle deficits in the initial phases of cognitive decline. Additionally, noninvasive biomarkers can help identify cholinergic depletion. However, despite the investigation of cholinergic treatment for language deficits in Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment, data on its effectiveness are insufficient and controversial. In the case of post-stroke aphasia, cholinergic agents are showing promise, particularly when combined with speech-language therapy to promote trained-dependent neural plasticity. Future research should explore the potential benefits of cholinergic pharmacotherapy in language deficits and investigate optimal strategies for combining these agents with other therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Dávila
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - María José Torres-Prioris
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - Diana López-Barroso
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - Marcelo L Berthier
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain.
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain.
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Gasiorowska A, Wydrych M, Drapich P, Zadrozny M, Steczkowska M, Niewiadomski W, Niewiadomska G. The Biology and Pathobiology of Glutamatergic, Cholinergic, and Dopaminergic Signaling in the Aging Brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:654931. [PMID: 34326765 PMCID: PMC8315271 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.654931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The elderly population is growing worldwide, with important health and socioeconomic implications. Clinical and experimental studies on aging have uncovered numerous changes in the brain, such as decreased neurogenesis, increased synaptic defects, greater metabolic stress, and enhanced inflammation. These changes are associated with cognitive decline and neurobehavioral deficits. Although aging is not a disease, it is a significant risk factor for functional worsening, affective impairment, disease exaggeration, dementia, and general disease susceptibility. Conversely, life events related to mental stress and trauma can also lead to accelerated age-associated disorders and dementia. Here, we review human studies and studies on mice and rats, such as those modeling human neurodegenerative diseases, that have helped elucidate (1) the dynamics and mechanisms underlying the biological and pathological aging of the main projecting systems in the brain (glutamatergic, cholinergic, and dopaminergic) and (2) the effect of defective glutamatergic, cholinergic, and dopaminergic projection on disabilities associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Detailed knowledge of the mechanisms of age-related diseases can be an important element in the development of effective ways of treatment. In this context, we briefly analyze which adverse changes associated with neurodegenerative diseases in the cholinergic, glutaminergic and dopaminergic systems could be targeted by therapeutic strategies developed as a result of our better understanding of these damaging mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gasiorowska
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Wydrych
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Drapich
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Zadrozny
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Steczkowska
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiktor Niewiadomski
- Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grazyna Niewiadomska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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3
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Alber J, Arthur E, Goldfarb D, Drake J, Boxerman JL, Silver B, Ott BR, Johnson LN, Snyder PJ. The relationship between cerebral and retinal microbleeds in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA): A pilot study. J Neurol Sci 2021; 423:117383. [PMID: 33684655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The standard in vivo diagnostic imaging technique for cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is costly and thereby of limited utility for point-of-care diagnosis and monitoring of treatment efficacy. Recent recognition that retinal changes may reflect cerebral changes in neurodegenerative disease provides an ideal opportunity for development of accessible and cost-effective biomarkers for point-of-care use in the detection and monitoring of CAA. In this pilot study, we examined structural and angiographic retinal changes in CAA patients relative to a control group, and compared retinal and cerebral pathology in a group of CAA patients. METHODS We used spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to image the retina and compared retinal microbleeds to both cerebral microbleeds and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in CAA patients, as seen on MRI. We compared retinal angiographic changes, along with structural retinal neuronal layer changes in CAA patients and cognitively normal older adults, and examined the relationship between retinal and cerebral microbleeds and cognition in CAA patients. RESULTS We found a trend level correlation between retinal and cerebral microbleeds in CAA patients. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between retinal microbleeds and episodic memory performance in CAA patients. There were no significant group differences between CAA patients and cognitively normal older adults on retinal angiographic or structural measurements. CONCLUSION Retinal microbleeds may reflect degree of cerebral microbleed burden in CAA. This picture was complicated by systolic hypertension in the CAA group, which is a confounding factor for the interpretation of these data. Our results stimulate motivation for pursuit of a more comprehensive prospective study to determine the feasibility of retinal biomarkers in CAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alber
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA; George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA; Memory & Aging Program, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Edmund Arthur
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA; George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA; Memory & Aging Program, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Drake
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jerrold L Boxerman
- Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Brian Silver
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brian R Ott
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lenworth N Johnson
- Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Peter J Snyder
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA; George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA; Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Abstract
Background: In 2020, the world has struggled to deal with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which started in 2019 in China and has spread throughout the globe, affecting at least 31,175,835 humans globally and claiming 962,634 lives reported till 22nd September, 2020 by the World Health Organization. The main causative agent for this disease is known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). So far, there is no cure or proven therapeutics available till date. Therefore, we undertook this study to find the most probable drug candidate through a bioinformatics study. Methods: Thus, we virtually screened the Zinc natural database using HTVS tool through molecular docking studies to analyze molecules recommended for the treatment of COVID-19. Results: Ramipril benzyl ester, propafenone dimer and Lariciresinol are three important drugs found from the present study due to their medicinal application which could be helpful in treating the disease. Stylopine, quillaic acid, cinobufagin, vitisinol C, segetalin A, scopolamine, 3-oxo glycyrrhetinic acid, conchinone B, lactimidomycin and cardinalins 4 are the other lead molecules that could be used as therapeutics against COVID-19 disease. Conclusions: The studied molecules could act as an effective inhibitory drug against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Singh
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Hector Florez
- Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas, Bogota, Colombia
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Thompson BM, Barrett ST, Bevins RA. Exploring the interoceptive stimulus effects of nicotine and varenicline. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 181:9-16. [PMID: 30954637 PMCID: PMC6545145 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Learning processes associated with nicotine influence the development of addiction to tobacco products. In the present report, we are interested in the interoceptive stimulus effects of nicotine acquiring control over appetitive behaviors - specifically, reward seeking. Also of interest is the current smoking cessation drug, varenicline (Chantix®). Varenicline, with its nicotine-like stimulus effects, can decrease withdrawal and cravings for a subset of individuals addicted to nicotine, though relapse is still common. We trained rats (N = 48) with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, SC) as an excitatory stimulus (i.e., paired with sucrose) in a drug-discriminated goal-tracking (DGT) task. There was no access to sucrose on interspersed saline days. After acquisition of the initial nicotine-saline discrimination, rats were separated into four groups to test discrimination reversal and drug substitution. The control group maintained nicotine as the excitatory stimulus (NIC+). The substitution group had varenicline (1 mg/kg) replace nicotine as the stimulus paired with sucrose (VAR+). One reversal group had nicotine signal the absence of sucrose (i.e., now available on intermixed saline sessions; NIC-). The last group was similar to the NIC- group except varenicline replaced nicotine on non-reinforced sessions (VAR-). We found that varenicline fully substituted as the training stimulus when the drug-sucrose relation remained in place (VAR+). Both reversal groups acquired the new discrimination, albeit slowly and more variable for the VAR- group in comparison to NIC-. There was an effect of group during substitution testing. Specifically, nicotine fully substituted for varenicline regardless of condition. However, varenicline only partially substituted for the nicotine stimulus. At the start of extinction, responding mimicked that of the rats training condition. However, by extinction session 12, all groups maintained similarly low levels of responding. These findings show nicotine and varenicline share stimulus elements, yet the conclusion of partial to full substitution depends on the nature of the testing protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady M Thompson
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Scott T Barrett
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Rick A Bevins
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
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Baakman AC, Alvarez-Jimenez R, Loewen G, de Kam ML, Broekhuizen K, Hilt DC, Groeneveld GJ. No synergistic effect of subtherapeutic doses of donepezil and EVP-6124 in healthy elderly subjects in a scopolamine challenge model. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2019; 5:89-98. [PMID: 30984817 PMCID: PMC6446049 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Donepezil is a widely used cholinesterase inhibitor in the management of Alzheimer's disease. Despite large-scaled evidence for its efficacy, elevated peripheral ACh levels often lead to side effects and are dose limiting. The present exploratory study is designed to determine the potentiation of the effects of donepezil by cotreatment with EVP-6124, an alpha-7 nicotinic agonist, to reduce scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits in healthy elderly subjects. Secondary objectives are to explore safety and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics effects of EVP-6124 alone and in combination with donepezil compared to placebo. METHODS A phase I randomized, single-center, placebo-controlled, double-blind, five-way, partial crossover study was performed with donepezil 2.5, 5 mg or placebo combined with EVP-6124 0.3, 1, 2, 4 mg or placebo in three cohorts of healthy elderly subjects in a scopolamine (0.3 mg i.v.) challenge test. Safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamics outcomes were assessed. RESULTS A total of 36 subjects completed the study. Donepezil pharmacokinetic parameters were similar with and without EVP-6124. Effective dose combinations were donepezil/EVP-6124(5/2 mg) and donepezil/EVP-6124 (5/0.3 mg) and showed improvements of the delayed recall of the Visual Verbal Learning Test (1.2; CI = 0.1-2.3) and reaction time during the two-back condition of the N-back (-42; CI = -77, -8), respectively. Overall, no marked reversal of scopolamine effects was observed. DISCUSSION This study shows no synergistic effect of subtherapeutic doses of donepezil and EVP-6124 in a scopolamine challenge model in healthy elderly subjects. Dosing of scopolamine and the combination of donepezil and EVP-6124 requires further study.
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Lorazepam Challenge for Individuals at Varying Genetic Risk for Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2018; 31:271-277. [PMID: 28582280 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study set out to clarify the differential acute cognitive impact of lorazepam based on varying genetic risk for Alzheimer disease. METHODS Fifty-seven cognitively unimpaired individuals aged 51 to 88, genotyped according to apolipoprotein E (APOE) and translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane (40 homolog) poly-T lengths, completed cognitive testing before, 2.5 and 5 hours after receiving a 1 mg dose of lorazepam. RESULTS Post-lorazepam, there were significant (P<0.05) declines from baseline in memory, psychomotor processing speed, and executive function. At 2.5 hours, the magnitude of this lorazepam-induced cognitive change was significantly greater in the APOE3/4 group than in the APOE3/3 group for tests of working memory and visuospatial memory/executive function. At 5 hours postchallenge, verbal memory and working memory deficits persisted in the APOE3/4 group compared with the APOE3/3 group. At 5 hours after lorazepam challenge, as compared with the very long/very long group, the short/short group performed slightly worse on a test of working memory (P<0.05), but no other differences were observed among translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane 40 homolog poly-T variant groups. DISCUSSION The lorazepam challenge may be unmasking presymptomatic cognitive dysfunction associated with APOE4 carriage.
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Santos CY, Johnson LN, Sinoff SE, Festa EK, Heindel WC, Snyder PJ. Change in retinal structural anatomy during the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 10:196-209. [PMID: 29780864 PMCID: PMC5956814 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadm.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We conducted a 27-month longitudinal study of mid-life adults with preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD), using spectral domain optical coherence tomography to compare changes in volume and thickness in all retinal neuronal layers to those of age-matched healthy control subjects. METHODS Fifty-six older adults (mean age = 65.36 years) with multiple risk factors for AD completed spectral domain optical coherence tomography retinal imaging and cognitive testing at baseline. Twenty-seven months later, they completed the same examinations and an 18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography imaging study. RESULTS Compared to healthy control subjects, those in the preclinical stage of AD showed a significant decrease in macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) volume, over a 27-month follow-up interval period, as well as a decrease in outer nuclear layer and inner plexiform layer volumes and thickness in the inferior quadrant. However, only the mRNFL volume was linearly related to neocortical positron emission tomography amyloid standardized uptake value ratio after controlling for any main effects of age (R2 = 0.103; ρ = 0.017). Furthermore, the magnitude of mRNFL volume reduction was significantly correlated with performance on a task of participants' abilities to efficiently integrate visual and auditory speech information (McGurk effect). DISCUSSION We observed a decrease in mRNFL, outer nuclear layer, and inner plexiform layer volumes, in preclinical AD relative to controls. Moreover, the largely myelinated axonal loss in the RNFL is related to increased neocortical amyloid-β accumulation after controlling for age. Volume loss in the RNFL, during the preclinical stage, is not related to performance on measures of episodic memory or problem solving. However, this retinal change does appear to be modestly related to relative decrements in performance on a measure of audiovisual integration efficiency that has been recently advanced as a possible early cognitive marker of mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Y. Santos
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Lifespan Clinical Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lenworth N. Johnson
- Lifespan Clinical Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rhode Island Hospital & Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stuart E. Sinoff
- Department of Ophthalmology, BayCare Medical Group, Clearwater, FL, USA
| | - Elena K. Festa
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - William C. Heindel
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Peter J. Snyder
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Lifespan Clinical Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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Salimi S, Irish M, Foxe D, Hodges JR, Piguet O, Burrell JR. Can visuospatial measures improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease? ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA: DIAGNOSIS, ASSESSMENT & DISEASE MONITORING 2017; 10:66-74. [PMID: 29780858 PMCID: PMC5956809 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadm.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Overlapping and evolving symptoms lead to ambiguity in the diagnosis of dementia. Visuospatial function relies on parietal lobe function, which may be affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review evaluates visuospatial dysfunction in patients with AD, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and vascular dementia to determine the diagnostic and prognostic potential of visuospatial tasks in AD. Methods A systematic search of studies (1960–2016) investigating visuospatial dysfunction in dementia was conducted. Results Tests measuring construction, specifically Block Design and Clock Drawing Test, and visual memory, specifically Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure recall and topographical tasks, show the greatest diagnostic potential in dementia. The Benton visual retention, Doors and People, and topographical memory tests show potential as prognostic markers. Discussion Tests of visuospatial function demonstrate significant diagnostic and prognostic potential in dementia. Further studies with larger samples of pathologically confirmed cases are required to verify clinical utility. Memory deficits have been demonstrated in Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementias. Parietal lobes are uniquely affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Visuospatial tasks demonstrate significant diagnostic and prognostic potential. Computerized test protocols have been developed to test aspects of visuospatial function and memory. Novel topographical memory tasks demonstrated the greatest prognostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Salimi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Muireann Irish
- School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Foxe
- School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- Central Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - James R Burrell
- Central Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurosciences, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Hampel H, Mesulam MM, Cuello AC, Khachaturian AS, Farlow MR, Snyder PJ, Giacobini E, Khachaturian ZS. WITHDRAWN: Revisiting the cholinergic hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease: Emerging evidence from translational and clinical research. Alzheimers Dement 2017:S1552-5260(17)33719-6. [PMID: 29028480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Hampel
- AXA Research Fund & UPMC Chair, Paris, France; Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Département de Neurologie, Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d'Alzheimer (IM2A), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Marsel M Mesulam
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ara S Khachaturian
- The Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease by 2020 (PAD2020), Potomac, MD, USA
| | - Martin R Farlow
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Peter J Snyder
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital & Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence RI, USA
| | - Ezio Giacobini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Simpraga S, Alvarez-Jimenez R, Mansvelder HD, van Gerven JMA, Groeneveld GJ, Poil SS, Linkenkaer-Hansen K. EEG machine learning for accurate detection of cholinergic intervention and Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5775. [PMID: 28720796 PMCID: PMC5515842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06165-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring effects of disease or therapeutic intervention on brain function is increasingly important for clinical trials, albeit hampered by inter-individual variability and subtle effects. Here, we apply complementary biomarker algorithms to electroencephalography (EEG) recordings to capture the brain’s multi-faceted signature of disease or pharmacological intervention and use machine learning to improve classification performance. Using data from healthy subjects receiving scopolamine we developed an index of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist (mAChR) consisting of 14 EEG biomarkers. This mAChR index yielded higher classification performance than any single EEG biomarker with cross-validated accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and precision ranging from 88–92%. The mAChR index also discriminated healthy elderly from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, an index optimized for AD pathophysiology provided a better classification. We conclude that integrating multiple EEG biomarkers can enhance the accuracy of identifying disease or drug interventions, which is essential for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Simpraga
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, CNCR, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Huibert D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, CNCR, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Geert Jan Groeneveld
- Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simon-Shlomo Poil
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, CNCR, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,NBT Analytics BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus Linkenkaer-Hansen
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, CNCR, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Laczó J, Markova H, Lobellova V, Gazova I, Parizkova M, Cerman J, Nekovarova T, Vales K, Klovrzova S, Harrison J, Windisch M, Vlcek K, Svoboda J, Hort J, Stuchlik A. Scopolamine disrupts place navigation in rats and humans: a translational validation of the Hidden Goal Task in the Morris water maze and a real maze for humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2017; 234:535-547. [PMID: 27885411 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-016-4488-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Development of new drugs for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires valid paradigms for testing their efficacy and sensitive tests validated in translational research. OBJECTIVES We present validation of a place-navigation task, a Hidden Goal Task (HGT) based on the Morris water maze (MWM), in comparable animal and human protocols. METHODS We used scopolamine to model cognitive dysfunction similar to that seen in AD and donepezil, a symptomatic medication for AD, to assess its potential reversible effect on this scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction. We tested the effects of scopolamine and the combination of scopolamine and donepezil on place navigation and compared their effects in human and rat versions of the HGT. Place navigation testing consisted of 4 sessions of HGT performed at baseline, 2, 4, and 8 h after dosing in humans or 1, 2.5, and 5 h in rats. RESULTS Scopolamine worsened performance in both animals and humans. In the animal experiment, co-administration of donepezil alleviated the negative effect of scopolamine. In the human experiment, subjects co-administered with scopolamine and donepezil performed similarly to subjects on placebo and scopolamine, indicating a partial ameliorative effect of donepezil. CONCLUSIONS In the task based on the MWM, scopolamine impaired place navigation, while co-administration of donepezil alleviated this effect in comparable animal and human protocols. Using scopolamine and donepezil to challenge place navigation testing can be studied concurrently in animals and humans and may be a valid and reliable model for translational research, as well as for preclinical and clinical phases of drug trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Laczó
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Uvalu 84, 150 06, Prague, Czech Republic. .,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Hana Markova
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Uvalu 84, 150 06, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Lobellova
- Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Gazova
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Uvalu 84, 150 06, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Parizkova
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Uvalu 84, 150 06, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Cerman
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Uvalu 84, 150 06, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Nekovarova
- Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic.,National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Vales
- Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic.,National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Sylva Klovrzova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Prague, Akademika Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - John Harrison
- Metis Cognition Ltd., Park House, Kilmington Common, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 6QY, UK.,Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Manfred Windisch
- NeuroScios GmbH, Willersdorferstrasse 6, A-8061, Radegund/Graz, Austria
| | - Kamil Vlcek
- Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Svoboda
- Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Hort
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, V Uvalu 84, 150 06, Prague, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Stuchlik
- Department of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic.
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13
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Santos CY, Lim YY, Wu WC, Machan JT, Polynice S, Schindler R, Maruff P, Snyder PJ. Resting-State Cardiac Workload is Related to Both Increased Neocortical Aggregation of Amyloid-β and Relative Impairments in Spatial Working Memory in Pre-Clinical Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 50:127-31. [PMID: 26639961 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
We sought to determine whether there is any association between a cardiac workload marker, rate pressure product (RPP), working memory, and cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) burden in 63 cognitively normal midlife adults (Mage = 62.8 years; range = 55 to 75 years) at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results show a small-to-moderate relationship between increasing cardiac workload (at rest) and neocortical amyloidosis in individuals at the preclinical stage of AD. Moreover, increasing RPP was linearly related to increasing relative impairments on a spatial working memory task (R2 = 0.30), but only for those individuals with neuroimaging evidence suggestive of preclinical AD. These results support a relationship between the aggregation of Aβ protein plaques in the neocortex, increased cognitive impairment, and more inefficient myocardial oxygen use in the absence of significant metabolic demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Yang Santos
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Yen Ying Lim
- Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wen-Chih Wu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Shahena Polynice
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Paul Maruff
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Cogstate Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Jeffrey Snyder
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.,Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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14
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Alvarez-Jimenez R, Groeneveld GJ, van Gerven JMA, Goulooze SC, Baakman AC, Hay JL, Stevens J. Model-based exposure-response analysis to quantify age related differences in the response to scopolamine in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2016; 82:1011-21. [PMID: 27273555 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Subjects with increasing age are more sensitive to the effects of the anti-muscarinic agent scopolamine, which is used (among other indications) to induce temporary cognitive dysfunction in early phase drug studies with cognition enhancing compounds. The enhanced sensitivity has always been attributed to incipient cholinergic neuronal dysfunction, as a part of the normal aging process. The aim of the study was to correlate age-dependent pharmacodynamic neuro-physiologic effects of scopolamine after correcting for differences in individual exposure. METHODS We applied a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling approach to describe individual exposure and neurocognitive effects of intravenous scopolamine administration in healthy subjects. RESULTS A two-compartment linear kinetics model best described the plasma concentrations of scopolamine. The estimated scopolamine population mean apparent central and peripheral volume of distribution was 2.66 ± 1.050 l and 62.10 ± 10.100 l, respectively and the clearance was 1.09 ± 0.096 l min(-1) . Age was not related to a decrease of performance in the tests following scopolamine administration in older subjects. Only the saccadic peak velocity showed a positive correlation between age and sensitivity to scopolamine. Age was, however, correlated at baseline with an estimated slower reaction time while performing the cognitive tests and to higher global δ and frontal θ frequency bands measured with the surface EEG. CONCLUSIONS Most of the differences in response to scopolamine administration between young and older subjects could be explained by pharmacokinetic differences (lower clearance) and not to an enhanced sensitivity when corrected for exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Geert Jan Groeneveld
- Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333, CL, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Neurology Department, VU University Medical Center, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joop M A van Gerven
- Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333, CL, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Neurology Department, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan C Goulooze
- Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333, CL, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research, Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Leiden University, 2333, CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Justin L Hay
- Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333, CL, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jasper Stevens
- Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333, CL, Leiden, the Netherlands
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15
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Muscarinic Attenuation of Mnemonic Rule Representation in Macaque Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex during a Pro- and Anti-Saccade Task. J Neurosci 2016; 35:16064-76. [PMID: 26658860 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2454-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Maintenance of context is necessary for execution of appropriate responses to diverse environmental stimuli. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a pivotal role in executive function, including working memory and representation of abstract rules. DLPFC activity is modulated by the ascending cholinergic system through nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Although muscarinic receptors have been implicated in executive performance and gating of synaptic signals, their effect on local primate DLPFC neuronal activity in vivo during cognitive tasks remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of muscarinic receptor blockade on rule-related activity in the macaque prefrontal cortex by combining iontophoretic application of the general muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine with single-cell recordings while monkeys performed a mnemonic rule-guided saccade task. We found that scopolamine reduced overall neuronal firing rate and impaired rule discriminability of task-selective cells. Saccade and visual direction selectivity measures were also reduced by muscarinic antagonism. These results demonstrate that blockade of muscarinic receptors in DLPFC creates deficits in working memory representation of rules in primates. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Acetylcholine plays a pivotal role in higher-order cognitive functions, including planning, reasoning, impulse-control, and making decisions based on contingencies or rules. Disruption of acetylcholine function is central to many psychiatric disorders manifesting cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer's disease. Although much is known about the involvement of acetylcholine and its receptors in arousal and attention, its involvement in working memory, an essential short-term memory component of cognition dependent on the integrity of prefrontal cortex, remains poorly understood. Herein, we explored the impact of suppressing acetylcholine signaling on neurons encoding memorized rules while macaque monkeys made responses based on those rules. Our findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms by which a disruption in acetylcholine function impairs working memory in the prefrontal cortex.
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16
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Validation and scopolamine-reversal of latent learning in the water maze utilizing a revised direct platform placement procedure. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2015; 135:90-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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17
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Thomas E, Maruff P, Paul J, Reeve R. Spatial sequence memory and spatial error monitoring in the Groton Maze Learning Task (GMLT): A validation study of GMLT sub-measures in healthy children. Child Neuropsychol 2015; 22:837-52. [PMID: 26033634 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2015.1038989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The stepping-stone variant of the hidden pathway maze learning (HPML) task paradigm has been extensively used to investigate cognitive functions in neuropsychology and neuropharmacology. Previous studies have used total error across trials, as well as rule-break errors and learning errors, to define spatial memory and/or executive function in healthy and impaired adults and children. However, the construct validity of performance measures on HPML tasks has not been established in healthy children. To assess the construct validity of measures of exploratory and rule-break errors on the Groton Maze Learning Task (GMLT) measures of spatial sequence memory (Corsi Blocks Task) and spatial error monitoring (Continuous Paired Associate Learning; CPAL) were used. The results indicate that Corsi span predicted GMLT spatial sequence memory and CPAL accuracy predicted GMLT spatial error monitoring. The construct validity of the GMLT as a measure of spatial memory and executive function are discussed with regard to prior research using HPML tasks in neuropsychological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Thomas
- a Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Paul Maruff
- b Centre for Neurosciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.,c Cogstate Ltd , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Jacob Paul
- a Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
| | - Robert Reeve
- a Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
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18
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Carruthers SP, Gurvich CT, Rossell SL. The muscarinic system, cognition and schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 55:393-402. [PMID: 26003527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
An increasing body of evidence has implicated the central muscarinic system as contributing to a number of symptoms of schizophrenia and serving as a potential target for pharmaceutical interventions. A theoretical review is presented that focuses on the central muscarinic system's contribution to the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. The aim is to bridge the void between pertinent neuropsychological and neurobiological research to provide an explanatory account of the role that the central muscarinic system plays in the symptoms of schizophrenia. First, there will be a brief overview of the relevant neuropsychological schizophrenia literature, followed by a concise introduction to the central muscarinic system. Subsequently, we will draw from animal, neuropsychological and pharmacological literature, and discuss the findings in relation to cognition, schizophrenia and the muscarinic system. Whilst unifying the multiple domains of research into a concise review will act as a useful line of enquiry into the central muscarinic systems contribution to the symptoms of schizophrenia, it will be made apparent that more research is needed in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Carruthers
- Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre (BPsyC), Faculty of Health, Arts, Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3122, VIC, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne 3004, VIC, Australia.
| | - Caroline T Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne 3004, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre (BPsyC), Faculty of Health, Arts, Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3122, VIC, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc), Monash University Central Clinical School and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne 3004, VIC, Australia; Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne 3065, VIC, Australia
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19
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Thomas E, Snyder PJ, Pietrzak RH, Maruff P. Behavior at the Choice Point: Decision Making in Hidden Pathway Maze Learning. Neuropsychol Rev 2014; 24:514-36. [DOI: 10.1007/s11065-014-9272-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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20
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de Oliveira RS, Trezza BM, Busse AL, Jacob Filho W. Use of computerized tests to assess the cognitive impact of interventions in the elderly. Dement Neuropsychol 2014; 8:107-111. [PMID: 29213890 PMCID: PMC5619116 DOI: 10.1590/s1980-57642014dn82000004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
With the aging of the population, the possibility of the occurrence of cognitive decline rises. A number of types of intervention seek to attenuate or reverse this impairment. The use of computerized tests helps quantify the effects of interventions on cognitive function in the elderly. The objective of the present review was to analyze studies that have utilized computerized cognitive tests to determine the effects of interventions in the elderly population, describing the batteries and tests employed, the populations studied and reports by authors on the limitations or benefits of employing these tests in older adults. The review was performed on the PubMed database using the descriptors: cognitive computerized test and elderly. We retrieved 530 studies and, following analysis of their abstracts, selected 32 relevant to the subject. The studies utilized 19 different types of computerized tests and batteries to assess the interventions, which were predominantly drug trials. There were no reports on limitations in the use of the computerized tests, suggesting this type of intervention had good applicability, sensitivity, and little or no practice effects in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beatriz Maria Trezza
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da
Universidade de São Paulo – USP/SP, São Paulo SP – Brazil
| | - Alexandre Leopold Busse
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da
Universidade de São Paulo – USP/SP, São Paulo SP – Brazil
| | - Wilson Jacob Filho
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da
Universidade de São Paulo – USP/SP, São Paulo SP – Brazil
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21
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Thomas E, Reeve R, Pietrzak R, Maruff P. Disentangling component learning and executive processes in hidden pathway maze learning in children: A process-based approach. Child Neuropsychol 2013; 19:588-600. [DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2012.704010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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22
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Harel BT, Pietrzak RH, Snyder PJ, Maruff P. Effect of cholinergic neurotransmission modulation on visual spatial paired associate learning in healthy human adults. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 228:673-83. [PMID: 23568575 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3072-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Use of cross-species neuropsychological paradigms such as visual-spatial paired associate learning (PAL) may allow for a better understanding of underlying neural substrates of memory. Such paradigms, which are often used to guide models of memory in animals, can then be carried forward into humans to provide a basis for evaluation of pharmacologic compounds designed to ameliorate learning and memory impairments in neurologic and psychiatric morbidities. OBJECTIVES This double-blind, randomized, crossover trial investigated effects of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, in attenuating scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment using a novel, "process-based" computerized measure of visual-spatial PAL. RESULTS In healthy male volunteers, scopolamine (0.6 mg) induced a time-dependent reduction in visual-spatial PAL, with the greatest impairment (Cohen's d = 1.37) observed 2 h after dosing. Cotreatment with donepezil (10 mg) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced impairment at the 2-h time point (Cohen's d = 0.66). Process-based analyses revealed a significant impairment in both memory (Cohen's d = 1.37 to 0.50) and executive (Cohen's d = 1 .21 to 0.62) aspects of visual-spatial PAL performance following acute scopolamine challenge, and these reductions were ameliorated by donepezil. CONCLUSIONS Acute scopolamine challenge can produce large and robust deficits in visual-spatial PAL, which reflect impairments in both memory and executive processes. Coadministration of a single dose of donepezil can ameliorate these deficits. These results provide support for the use of a visual-spatial PAL test as a pharmacodynamic cognitive marker of central nervous system (CNS)-mediating compounds in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T Harel
- CogState, Ltd, 195 Church St., 8th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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23
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Newman EL, Gupta K, Climer JR, Monaghan CK, Hasselmo ME. Cholinergic modulation of cognitive processing: insights drawn from computational models. Front Behav Neurosci 2012; 6:24. [PMID: 22707936 PMCID: PMC3374475 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2012.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine plays an important role in cognitive function, as shown by pharmacological manipulations that impact working memory, attention, episodic memory, and spatial memory function. Acetylcholine also shows striking modulatory influences on the cellular physiology of hippocampal and cortical neurons. Modeling of neural circuits provides a framework for understanding how the cognitive functions may arise from the influence of acetylcholine on neural and network dynamics. We review the influences of cholinergic manipulations on behavioral performance in working memory, attention, episodic memory, and spatial memory tasks, the physiological effects of acetylcholine on neural and circuit dynamics, and the computational models that provide insight into the functional relationships between the physiology and behavior. Specifically, we discuss the important role of acetylcholine in governing mechanisms of active maintenance in working memory tasks and in regulating network dynamics important for effective processing of stimuli in attention and episodic memory tasks. We also propose that theta rhythm plays a crucial role as an intermediary between the physiological influences of acetylcholine and behavior in episodic and spatial memory tasks. We conclude with a synthesis of the existing modeling work and highlight future directions that are likely to be rewarding given the existing state of the literature for both empiricists and modelers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehren L. Newman
- Center for Memory and Brain, Boston University, BostonMA, USA
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24
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Cholinergic blockade under working memory demands encountered by increased rehearsal strategies: evidence from fMRI in healthy subjects. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2012; 262:329-39. [PMID: 22006639 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-011-0267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The connection between cholinergic transmission and cognitive performance has been established in behavioural studies. The specific contribution of the muscarinic receptor system on cognitive performance and brain activation, however, has not been evaluated satisfyingly. To investigate the specific contribution of the muscarinic transmission on neural correlates of working memory, we examined the effects of scopolamine, an antagonist of the muscarinic receptors, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Fifteen healthy male, non-smoking subjects performed a fMRI scanning session following the application of scopolamine (0.4 mg, i.v.) or saline in a placebo-controlled, repeated measure, pseudo-randomized, single-blind design. Working memory was probed using an n-back task. Compared to placebo, challenging the cholinergic transmission with scopolamine resulted in hypoactivations in parietal, occipital and cerebellar areas and hyperactivations in frontal and prefrontal areas. These alterations are interpreted as compensatory strategies used to account for downregulation due to muscarinic acetylcholine blockade in parietal and cerebral storage systems by increased activation in frontal and prefrontal areas related to working memory rehearsal. Our results further underline the importance of cholinergic transmission to working memory performance and determine the specific contribution of muscarinic transmission on cerebral activation associated with executive functioning.
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25
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Cho W, Maruff P, Connell J, Gargano C, Calder N, Doran S, Fox-Bosetti S, Hassan A, Renger J, Herman G, Lines C, Verma A. Additive effects of a cholinesterase inhibitor and a histamine inverse agonist on scopolamine deficits in humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 218:513-24. [PMID: 21644059 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-011-2344-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 05/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Enhancement of histaminergic neurotransmission or histaminergic plus cholinergic neurotransmission may represent novel strategies for improving cognition in Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a novel histamine H3 receptor inverse agonist (MK-3134), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (donepezil), and their combination in attenuating the cognitive impairment associated with scopolamine. METHODS Thirty-one subjects were randomized, and 28 completed this double-blind, placebo-controlled, five-period crossover study. Cognition was assessed using the Groton Maze Learning Task (GMLT) as the primary outcome measure. The two primary hypotheses were that donepezil 10 mg and MK-3134 25 mg, respectively, would attenuate scopolamine (0.5 mg)-induced impairment as measured by the GMLT over the first 12 h after scopolamine administration (AUC(1-12) (h)). A secondary hypothesis was that the combination of donepezil and MK-3134 would attenuate scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment to a greater extent than either agent alone as measured by the GMLT AUC(1-12 h). RESULTS The primary and secondary hypotheses were not met. Upon examining the time course of the scopolamine effects (an exploratory objective), peak effects were generally observed around 2 h after scopolamine administration. Administration of MK-3134 or donepezil improved performance on the GMLT at the 2-h time point, rather than AUC(1-12 h), compared with scopolamine alone. Moreover, it appeared that the combination of MK-3134 and donepezil blunted the scopolamine effect to a greater extent than either drug alone. CONCLUSIONS Exploratory analyses provide evidence for cognitive improvement through inverse agonism of the H3 histamine receptor and for cooperation between human cholinergic and histaminergic neurotransmitter systems. (ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration number: NCT01181310).
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Affiliation(s)
- William Cho
- Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA.
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26
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Aggelopoulos NC, Liebe S, Logothetis NK, Rainer G. Cholinergic control of visual categorization in macaques. Front Behav Neurosci 2011; 5:73. [PMID: 22110428 PMCID: PMC3215973 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter acting via muscarinic and nicotinic receptors that is implicated in several cognitive functions and impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed to especially affect the acquisition of new information, which is particularly important when behavior needs to be adapted to new situations and to novel sensory events. Categorization, the process of assigning stimuli to a category, is a cognitive function that also involves information acquisition. The role of ACh on categorization has not been previously studied. We have examined the effects of scopolamine, an antagonist of muscarinic ACh receptors, on visual categorization in macaque monkeys using familiar and novel stimuli. When the peripheral effects of scopolamine on the parasympathetic nervous system were controlled for, categorization performance was disrupted following systemic injections of scopolamine. This impairment was observed only when the stimuli that needed to be categorized had not been seen before. In other words, the monkeys were not impaired by the central action of scopolamine in categorizing a set of familiar stimuli (stimuli which they had categorized successfully in previous sessions). Categorization performance also deteriorated as the stimulus became less salient by an increase in the level of visual noise. However, scopolamine did not cause additional performance disruptions for difficult categorization judgments at lower coherence levels. Scopolamine, therefore, specifically affects the assignment of new exemplars to established cognitive categories, presumably by impairing the processing of novel information. Since we did not find an effect of scopolamine in the categorization of familiar stimuli, scopolamine had no significant central action on other cognitive functions such as perception, attention, memory, or executive control within the context of our categorization task.
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Thomas E, Reeve R, Fredrickson A, Maruff P. Spatial memory and executive functions in children. Child Neuropsychol 2011; 17:599-615. [DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2011.567980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Thomas
- University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, Psychological Sciences, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
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Ginani GE, Tufik S, Bueno OFA, Pradella-Hallinan M, Rusted J, Pompéia S. Acute effects of donepezil in healthy young adults underline the fractionation of executive functioning. J Psychopharmacol 2011; 25:1508-16. [PMID: 21262858 DOI: 10.1177/0269881110391832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The cholinergic system is involved in the modulation of both bottom-up and top-down attentional control. Top-down attention engages multiple executive control processes, but few studies have investigated whether all or selective elements of executive functions are modulated by the cholinergic system. To investigate the acute effects of the pro-cholinergic donepezil in young, healthy volunteers on distinct components of executive functions we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, independent-groups design study including 42 young healthy male participants who were randomly assigned to one of three oral treatments: glucose (placebo), donepezil 5 mg or donepezil 7.5 mg. The test battery included measures of different executive components (shifting, updating, inhibition, dual-task performance, planning, access to long-term memory), tasks that evaluated arousal/vigilance/visuomotor performance, as well as functioning of working memory subsidiary systems. Donepezil improved sustained attention, reaction times, dual-task performance and the executive component of digit span. The positive effects in these executive tasks did not correlate with arousal/visuomotor/vigilance measures. Among the various executive domains investigated donepezil selectively increased dual-task performance in a manner that could not be ascribed to improvement in arousal/vigilance/visuomotor performance nor working memory slave systems. Other executive tasks that rely heavily on visuospatial processing may also be modulated by the cholinergic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- G E Ginani
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Mathewson KJ, Dywan J, Snyder PJ, Tays WJ, Segalowitz SJ. Autonomic regulation and maze-learning performance in older and younger adults. Biol Psychol 2011; 88:20-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Revised: 05/17/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Haley GE, Kroenke C, Schwartz D, Kohama SG, Urbanski HF, Raber J. Hippocampal M1 receptor function associated with spatial learning and memory in aged female rhesus macaques. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2011; 33:309-320. [PMID: 20890730 PMCID: PMC3168603 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-010-9184-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Of the acetylcholine muscarinic receptors, the type 1 (M1) and type 2 (M2) receptors are expressed at the highest levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, brain regions important for cognition. As equivocal findings of age-related changes of M1 and M2 in the nonhuman primate brain have been reported, we first assessed age-related changes in M1 and M2 in the PFC and hippocampus using saturation binding assays. Maximum M1 receptor binding, but not affinity of M1 receptor binding, decreased with age. In contrast, the affinity of M2 receptor binding, but not maximum M2 receptor binding, increased with age. To determine if in the elderly cognitive performance is associated with M1 or M2 function, we assessed muscarinic function in elderly female rhesus macaques in vivo using a scopolamine challenge pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging and in vitro using saturation binding assays. Based on their performance in a spatial maze, the animals were classified as good spatial performers (GSP) or poor spatial performers (PSP). In the hippocampus, but not PFC, the GSP group showed a greater change in T(2)*-weighted signal intensity after scopolamine challenge than the PSP group. The maximum M1 receptor binding and receptor binding affinity was greater in the GSP than the PSP group, but no group difference was found in M2 receptor binding. Parameters of circadian activity positively correlated with the difference in T(2)*-weighted signal intensity before and after the challenge, the maximum M1 receptor binding, and the M1 receptor binding affinity. Thus, while in rhesus macaques, there are age-related decreases in M1 and M2 receptor binding, in aged females, hippocampal M1, but not M2, receptor function is associated with spatial learning and memory and circadian activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolen E. Haley
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Chris Kroenke
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Daniel Schwartz
- Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center, Division of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Steven G. Kohama
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
| | - Henryk F. Urbanski
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Jacob Raber
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
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Papp KV, Snyder PJ, Maruff P, Bartkowiak J, Pietrzak RH. Detecting subtle changes in visuospatial executive function and learning in the amnestic variant of mild cognitive impairment. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21688. [PMID: 21779333 PMCID: PMC3136468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2010] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a putative prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) characterized by deficits in episodic verbal memory. Our goal in the present study was to determine whether executive dysfunction may also be detectable in individuals diagnosed with aMCI. METHODS This study used a hidden maze learning test to characterize component processes of visuospatial executive function and learning in a sample of 62 individuals with aMCI compared with 94 healthy controls. RESULTS Relative to controls, individuals with aMCI made more exploratory/learning errors (Cohen's d = .41). Comparison of learning curves revealed that the slope between the first two of five learning trials was four times as steep for controls than for individuals with aMCI (Cohen's d = .64). Individuals with aMCI also made a significantly greater number of rule-break/error monitoring errors across learning trials (Cohen's d = .21). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that performance on a task of complex visuospatial executive function is compromised in individuals with aMCI, and likely explained by reductions in initial strategy formulation during early visual learning and "on-line" maintenance of task rules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn V. Papp
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Snyder
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University & Lifespan Hospitals System, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Paul Maruff
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- CogState, Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bartkowiak
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Pietrzak
- CogState, Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Méndez-López M, Méndez M, López L, Arias JL. Memory performance and scopolamine: hypoactivity of the thalamus revealed by cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. Acta Histochem 2011; 113:465-71. [PMID: 20546863 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2010.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2010] [Revised: 04/11/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Spatial memory learning is related to the functioning of a neuronal circuit composed of cortical, hippocampal and diencephalic brain regions. The Morris water maze (MWM) is frequently used to assess spatial memory in rats. In this study, the neuronal functional activity of some brain limbic system regions after a memory task in adult male Wistar rats injected with scopolamine (1.0mg/kg, i.p.) was assessed using cytochrome oxidase (COx) histochemistry. The rats were trained following a working memory schedule in the MWM. A trained group injected with saline and an untreated control group were examined to compare changes in COx activity in the dorsal hippocampus, anterior thalamus, mammillary nuclei, prefrontal cortex and ventral tegmental area. The scopolamine-treated group showed an impairment of spatial learning. Also, a decrease in COx activity was found in this group as compared to the saline group in the anteroventral and anteromedial thalamic nuclei. Overall, these findings suggest that memory deficits induced by scopolamine may be due to impairment of the cholinergic function in the anterior thalamic nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Méndez-López
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
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Pietrzak RH, Snyder PJ, Maruff P. Amphetamine-related improvement in executive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia is modulated by practice effects. Schizophr Res 2010; 124:176-82. [PMID: 20947305 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2010] [Revised: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amelioration of cognitive impairment is an important treatment goal for a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. One critical issue in clinical trial design is the extent to which repeated exposure to cognitive tests (i.e., practice effects) may lead to improvement in performance on the cognitive tests in the absence of any true treatment effect. The current study examined the extent to which practice effects on a measure of executive function may influence the sensitivity of that task to detecting the cognitive-enhancing effects of a single acute dose of d-amphetamine in individuals with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS Twenty-four men with chronic schizophrenia were randomized to receive a constant or random/matched alternate form version of a hidden maze learning measure of executive function (Groton Maze Learning Test; GMLT) on four separate occasions in one month. They also completed a measure of psychomotor speed. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups design, cognitive function following administration of a single dose of d-amphetamine (20mg p.o) or placebo was then assessed. RESULTS The group who received the constant-pathway version of the GMLT showed a large practice effect (d = 2.05) over four practice sessions. Consequently, they did not evidence any improvement on the GMLT following d-amphetamine administration. In contrast, the group who received the random/matched alternate version of the GMLT showed a statistically significant and large effect size (d = .84) improvement on this measure. Both groups showed d-amphetamine-related improvement on a measure of psychomotor speed. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study suggest that practice effects associated with repeated exposure to a cognitive test could obscure the sensitivity of the test to detecting true treatment-related cognitive improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06516, USA.
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Goonawardena AV, Robinson L, Hampson RE, Riedel G. Cannabinoid and cholinergic systems interact during performance of a short-term memory task in the rat. Learn Mem 2010; 17:502-11. [PMID: 20876271 DOI: 10.1101/lm.1893710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
It is now well established that cannabinoid agonists such as Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), anandamide, and WIN 55,212-2 (WIN-2) produce potent and specific deficits in working memory (WM)/short-term memory (STM) tasks in rodents. Although mediated through activation of CB1 receptors located in memory-related brain regions such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, these may, in part, be due to a reduction in acetylcholine release (i.e., cholinergic hypofunction). To determine the interaction between cannabinoid and cholinergic systems, we exposed rats treated with WIN-2 or cholinergic drugs to a hippocampal-dependent delayed nonmatch to sample (DNMS) task to study STM, and recorded hippocampal single-unit activity in vivo. WIN-2 induced significant deficits in DNMS performance and reduced the average firing and bursting rates of hippocampal principal cells through a CB1 receptor-mediated mechanism. Rivastigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, reversed these STM deficits and normalized hippocampal discharge rates. Effects were specific to 1 mg/kg WIN-2 as rivastigmine failed to reverse the behavioral and physiological deficits that were observed in the presence of MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist. This supports the notion that cannabinoid-modulated cholinergic activity is a mechanism underlying the performance deficits in DNMS. Whether deficits are due to reduced nicotinic or muscarinic receptor activation, or both, awaits further analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushka V Goonawardena
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1083, USA
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Robinson L, Goonawardena AV, Pertwee R, Hampson RE, Platt B, Riedel G. WIN55,212-2 induced deficits in spatial learning are mediated by cholinergic hypofunction. Behav Brain Res 2010; 208:584-92. [PMID: 20079375 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2009] [Revised: 01/04/2010] [Accepted: 01/06/2010] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids acting on CB(1) receptors induce learning and memory impairments. However, the identification of novel non-CB(1) receptors which are insensitive to the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) but sensitive to synthetic cannabinoids such as WIN55,212-2 (WIN-2) or endocannabinoids like anandamide lead us to question whether WIN-2 induced learning and memory deficits are indeed mediated by CB(1) receptor activation. Given the relative paucity of receptor subtype specific antagonists, a way forward would be to determine the transmitter systems, which are modulated by the respective cannabinoids. This study set out to evaluate this proposition by determination of the effects of WIN-2 on acquisition of spatial reference memory using the water maze in rats. Particular weight was given to performance in trial 1 of each daily session as an index of between-session long-term memory, and in trial 4 as an index of within-session short-term memory. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of WIN-2 (1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg) prior to training impaired long-term, but not short-term memory. This deficit was not reversed by the CB(1) antagonists/inverse agonists Rimonabant (3mg/kg i.p.) and AM281 (0.5 mg/kg i.p.), but recovered in the presence of the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine (1 mg/kg). Reversal by rivastigmine was specific to WIN-2, as it failed to reverse MK801 (0.08 mg/kg) induced learning impairments. Collectively, these data suggest that in this spatial reference memory task WIN-2 causes a reduction in cholinergic activation, possibly through a non-CB(1)-like mechanism, which affects long-term but not short-term spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianne Robinson
- School of Medical Sciences, College of Life Science and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK
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Pietrzak RH, Olver J, Norman T, Piskulic D, Maruff P, Snyder PJ. A comparison of the CogState Schizophrenia Battery and the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Battery in assessing cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2009; 31:848-59. [DOI: 10.1080/13803390802592458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert H. Pietrzak
- a Department of Psychiatry , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT, USA
| | - James Olver
- b Department of Psychiatry , School of Medicine, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Trevor Norman
- b Department of Psychiatry , School of Medicine, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danijela Piskulic
- b Department of Psychiatry , School of Medicine, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul Maruff
- c Centre for Neuroscience , University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- d CogState Ltd. , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter J. Snyder
- e Department of Clinical Neurosciences , Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence, RI, USA
- f Child Study Center , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT, USA
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Abdul-Hay SO, Luo J, Ashghodom RT, Thatcher GRJ. NO-flurbiprofen reduces amyloid-beta, is neuroprotective in cell culture, and enhances cognition in response to cholinergic blockade. J Neurochem 2009; 111:766-76. [PMID: 19702655 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06353.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen is a selective amyloid lowering agent which has been studied clinically in Alzheimer's disease. HCT-1026 is an ester prodrug of flurbiprofen incorporating a nitrate carrier moiety that in vivo provides NO bioactivity and an improved safety profile. In vitro, HCT-1026 retained the cyclooxygenase inhibitory and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activity of flurbiprofen, but at concentrations at which levels of amyloid-beta 1-42 amino acid were lowered by flurbiprofen, amyloid-beta 1-42 amino acid levels were elevated 200% by HCT-1026. Conversely, at lower concentrations, HCT-1026 behaved as a selective amyloid lowering agent with greater potency than flurbiprofen. The difference in concentration-responses between flurbiprofen and HCT-1026 in vitro suggests different cellular targets; and in no case did a combination of nitrate drug with flurbiprofen provide similar actions. In vivo, HCT-1026 was observed to reverse cognitive deficits induced by scopolamine in two behavioral assays; activity that was also shown by a classical nitrate drug, but not by flurbiprofen. The ability to restore aversive memory and spatial working and reference memory after cholinergic blockade has been demonstrated by other agents that stimulate NO/cGMP signaling. These observations add positively to the preclinical profile of HCT-1026 and NO chimeras in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer O Abdul-Hay
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
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Zaninotto ALC, Bueno OFA, Pradella-Hallinan M, Tufik S, Rusted J, Stough C, Pompéia S. Acute cognitive effects of donepezil in young, healthy volunteers. Hum Psychopharmacol 2009; 24:453-64. [PMID: 19637397 DOI: 10.1002/hup.1044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The acute nootropic potential of donepezil in young healthy volunteers has not been adequately investigated mainly because in previous studies: (1) effects were assessed before peak-plasma concentration (Tmax) was reached; (2) only a few cognitive processes were assessed. Here we investigated a myriad of cognitive effects of augmentation of acetylcholine using an acute dose of donepezil in healthy adults at theoretical Tmax. METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group design study of cognitive effects of acute oral donepezil (5 mg). Subjects were tested twice after donepezil ingestion: 90 min (time that coincides with previous testing in the literature) and 210 min. (theoretical Tmax). The test battery included tasks that tap cognitive domains that are sensitive to acetylcholine manipulations. RESULTS At both testing times donepezil improved long-term recall of prose, objects recall, recall of spatial locations, and integration of objects with their locations, some effects having been related to self-reported mood enhancement. However, improvement of performance in the central executive measure (backward digit span) occurred only at Tmax. CONCLUSION Positive cognitive effects of acute donepezil can be observed in various cognitive domains including mood, but its full nootropic potential is more clearly found close to theoretical peak-plasma concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L C Zaninotto
- Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
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Claassen JAHR, van Beek AHEA, Olde Rikkert MGM. Short review: Acetylcholinesterase-inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease have opposing effects on blood pressure and cerebral perfusion. J Nutr Health Aging 2009; 13:231-3. [PMID: 19262959 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-009-0064-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J A H R Claassen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Netherlands.
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