1
|
Bernaud VE, Hiroi R, Poisson ML, Castaneda AJ, Kirshner ZZ, Gibbs RB, Bimonte-Nelson HA. Age Impacts the Burden That Reference Memory Imparts on an Increasing Working Memory Load and Modifies Relationships With Cholinergic Activity. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:610078. [PMID: 33643006 PMCID: PMC7902531 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.610078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent aging research often utilizes spatial mazes, such as the water radial-arm-maze (WRAM), to evaluate cognition. The WRAM can simultaneously measure spatial working and reference memory, wherein these two memory types are often represented as orthogonal. There is evidence, however, that these two memory forms yield interference at a high working memory load. The current study systematically evaluated whether the presence of a reference memory component impacts handling of an increasing working memory load. Young and aged female rats were tested to assess whether aging impacts this relationship. Cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain to the hippocampus and cortex can affect cognitive outcomes, and are negatively impacted by aging. To evaluate whether age-related changes in working and reference memory profiles are associated with cholinergic functioning, we assessed choline acetyltransferase activity in these behaviorally-tested rats. Results showed that young rats outperformed aged rats on a task testing solely working memory. The addition of a reference memory component deteriorated the ability to handle an increasing working memory load, such that young rats performed similar to their aged counterparts. Aged rats also had challenges when reference memory was present, but in a different context. Specifically, aged rats had difficulty remembering which reference memory arms they had entered within a session, compared to young rats. Further, aged rats that excelled in reference memory also excelled in working memory when working memory demand was high, a relationship not seen in young rats. Relationships between cholinergic activity and maze performance differed by age in direction and brain region, reflecting the complex role that the cholinergic system plays in memory and attentional processes across the female lifespan. Overall, the addition of a reference memory requirement detrimentally impacted the ability to handle working memory information across young and aged timepoints, especially when the working memory challenge was high; these age-related deficits manifested differently with the addition of a reference memory component. This interplay between working and reference memory provides insight into the multiple domains necessary to solve complex cognitive tasks, potentially improving the understanding of complexities of age- and disease- related memory failures and optimizing their respective treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E Bernaud
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ryoko Hiroi
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Mallori L Poisson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Arthur J Castaneda
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ziv Z Kirshner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Robert B Gibbs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Heather A Bimonte-Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States.,Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Conley AC, Albert KM, Boyd BD, Kim SG, Shokouhi S, McDonald BC, Saykin AJ, Dumas JA, Newhouse PA. Cognitive complaints are associated with smaller right medial temporal gray-matter volume in younger postmenopausal women. Menopause 2020; 27:1220-1227. [PMID: 33110037 PMCID: PMC9153070 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000001613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause is associated with increasing cognitive complaints and older women are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease compared to men. However, there is difficulty in early markers of risk using objective performance measures. We investigated the impact of subjective cognitive complaints on the cortical structure in a sample of younger postmenopausal women. METHODS Data for this cross-sectional study were drawn from the baseline visit of a longer double-blind study examining estrogen-cholinergic interactions in normal postmenopausal women. Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging was acquired on 44 women, aged 50-60 years and gray-matter volume was defined by voxel-based morphometry. Subjective measures of cognitive complaints and postmenopausal symptoms were obtained as well as tests of verbal episodic and working memory performance. RESULTS Increased levels of cognitive complaints were associated with lower gray-matter volume in the right medial temporal lobe (r = -0.445, P < 0.002, R = 0.2). Increased depressive symptoms and somatic complaints were also related to increased cognitive complaints and smaller medial temporal volumes but did not mediate the effect of cognitive complaints. In contrast, there was no association between performance on the memory tasks and subjective cognitive ratings, or medial temporal lobe volume. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the present study indicate that the level of reported cognitive complaints in postmenopausal women may be associated with reduced gray-matter volume which may be associated with cortical changes that may increase risk of future cognitive decline. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A626.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C. Conley
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Kimberly M. Albert
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Brian D. Boyd
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Shin-Gyeom Kim
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon Hospital, Republic of Korea
| | - Sepideh Shokouhi
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Brenna C. McDonald
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Julie A. Dumas
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
| | - Paul A. Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health System, Nashville, TN
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chhatwal JP, Schultz AP, Hedden T, Boot BP, Wigman S, Rentz D, Johnson KA, Sperling RA. Anticholinergic Amnesia is Mediated by Alterations in Human Network Connectivity Architecture. Cereb Cortex 2019; 29:3445-3456. [PMID: 30192928 PMCID: PMC6644870 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted cholinergic neurotransmission plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease, medication-induced memory impairment, and delirium. At the systems level, this suggests anticholinergic drugs may alter the activity and interplay of anatomically distributed neural networks critical for memory function. Using a network-sensitive imaging technique (functional connectivity MRI) and a double-blind, crossover design, we examined the consequences of anticholinergic drug administration on episodic memory and functional network architecture in a group of clinically normal elderly. We observed that low-dose scopolamine (0.2 mg IV) decreased episodic memory performance and selectively decreased connectivity strength in 3 of 7 cortical networks. Both memory and connectivity effects were independent of β-amyloid burden. Drug-induced connectivity changes within the Default and Salience networks, as well as reductions in the strength of anticorrelation between these 2 networks, were sufficient to fully statistically mediate the effects of scopolamine on memory performance. These results provide experimental support for the importance of the Default and Salience networks to memory performance and suggest scopolamine-induced amnesia is underpinned by disrupted connectivity within and between these 2 networks. More broadly, these results support the potential utility of fcMRI as tool examine the systems-level pharmacology of psychoactive drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmeer P Chhatwal
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aaron P Schultz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Trey Hedden
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Brendon P Boot
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Voyager Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Wigman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dorene Rentz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Keith A Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Seitz J, Kubicki M, Jacobs EG, Cherkerzian S, Weiss BK, Papadimitriou G, Mouradian P, Buka S, Goldstein JM, Makris N. Impact of sex and reproductive status on memory circuitry structure and function in early midlife using structural covariance analysis. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 40:1221-1233. [PMID: 30548738 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on age-related memory alterations traditionally targets individuals aged ≥65 years. However, recent studies emphasize the importance of early aging processes. We therefore aimed to characterize variation in brain gray matter structure in early midlife as a function of sex and menopausal status. Subjects included 94 women (33 premenopausal, 29 perimenopausal, and 32 postmenopausal) and 99 demographically comparable men from the New England Family Study. Subjects were scanned with a high-resolution T1 sequence on a 3 T whole body scanner. Sex and reproductive-dependent structural differences were evaluated using Box's M test and analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) for gray matter volumes. Brain regions of interest included dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), inferior parietal lobule (iPAR), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus (HIPP), and parahippocampus. While we observed expected significant sex differences in volume of hippocampus with women of all groups having higher volumes than men relative to cerebrum size, we also found significant differences in the covariance matrices of perimenopausal women compared with postmenopausal women. Associations between ACC and HIPP/iPAR/DLPFC were higher in postmenopausal women and correlated with better memory performance. Findings in this study underscore the importance of sex and reproductive status in early midlife for understanding memory function with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Seitz
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marek Kubicki
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Center for Morphometric Analysis, Center for Neural Systems Investigations, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Emily G Jacobs
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara Cherkerzian
- Department of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Blair K Weiss
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George Papadimitriou
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Center for Morphometric Analysis, Center for Neural Systems Investigations, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Palig Mouradian
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Center for Morphometric Analysis, Center for Neural Systems Investigations, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Stephen Buka
- Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Center for Morphometric Analysis, Center for Neural Systems Investigations, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nikos Makris
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Center for Morphometric Analysis, Center for Neural Systems Investigations, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
尼古丁对内隐记忆与外显记忆的影响 <sup>*</sup>. ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA SINICA 2018. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1041.2018.00940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
6
|
Effect of Trospium Chloride on Cognitive Function in Women Aged 50 and Older: A Randomized Trial. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2017; 23:118-123. [PMID: 28067745 DOI: 10.1097/spv.0000000000000374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the effect of trospium chloride on cognitive function in postmenopausal women treated for overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted from April 2013 to April 2015. Women aged 50 years or older seeking treatment for OAB were randomized to either trospium chloride XR 60 mg daily or placebo. Baseline cognitive function was assessed via Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Mini Mental Status Exam, Mini Mental Status X, Digit Span, Trails A, Trails B, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Cognitive function was reassessed at week 1 and week 4. A priori power analysis determined that 21 subjects were needed per group. RESULTS Although 59 women were enrolled and randomized (28 trospium and 31 placebo), 45 completed assessment (21 trospium and 24 placebo). Mean age was 68 years, 78% were white, and 44% had previously taken OAB medication. For the primary outcome, there was no difference in HVLT-R total score between trospium and placebo groups at week 4 (P = 0.29). There were also no differences based on the other cognitive tests. There was a correlation between age and the following week-4 tests: HVLT-R total score (r = -0.3, P = 0.02), HVLT-R total recall subscale (r = -0.4, P = 0.007), Trails A (r = 0.4, P = 0.002), and Trails B (r = 0.4, P = 0.004). A linear regression model found that HVLT-R total score decreased by 0.372 points for each increased year of age. CONCLUSIONS In women aged 50 years and older, there were no changes in cognitive function between those taking trospium and placebo. Cognitive function was correlated with age.
Collapse
|
7
|
Baakman AC, Alvarez‐Jimenez R, Rissmann R, Klaassen ES, Stevens J, Goulooze SC, den Burger JCG, Swart EL, van Gerven JMA, Groeneveld GJ. An anti-nicotinic cognitive challenge model using mecamylamine in comparison with the anti-muscarinic cognitive challenge using scopolamine. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2017; 83:1676-1687. [PMID: 28217868 PMCID: PMC5510063 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist scopolamine is often used for proof-of-pharmacology studies with pro-cognitive compounds. From a pharmacological point of view, it would seem more rational to use a nicotinic rather than a muscarinic anticholinergic challenge to prove pharmacology of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. This study aims to characterize a nicotinic anticholinergic challenge model using mecamylamine and to compare it to the scopolamine model. METHODS In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way cross-over trial, 12 healthy male subjects received oral mecamylamine 10 and 20 mg, intravenous scopolamine 0.5 mg and placebo. Pharmacokinetics were analysed using non-compartmental analysis. Pharmacodynamic effects were measured with a multidimensional test battery that includes neurophysiological, subjective, (visuo)motor and cognitive measurements. RESULTS All treatments were safe and well tolerated. Mecamylamine had a tmax of 2.5 h and a Cmax of 64.5 ng ml-1 for the 20 mg dose. Mecamylamine had a dose-dependent effect decreasing the adaptive tracking performance and VAS alertness, and increasing the finger tapping and visual verbal learning task performance time and errors. Scopolamine significantly affected almost all pharmacodynamic tests. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that mecamylamine causes nicotinic receptor specific temporary decline in cognitive functioning. Compared with the scopolamine model, pharmacodynamic effects were less pronounced at the dose levels tested; however, mecamylamine caused less sedation. The cognitive effects of scopolamine might at least partly be caused by sedation. Whether the mecamylamine model can be used for proof-of-pharmacology of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists remains to be established.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jeroen C. G. den Burger
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and PharmacyVU University Medical CenterAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Eleonora L. Swart
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and PharmacyVU University Medical CenterAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Newhouse P, Dumas J. Estrogen-cholinergic interactions: Implications for cognitive aging. Horm Behav 2015; 74:173-85. [PMID: 26187712 PMCID: PMC4573353 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Estradiol and Cognition". While many studies in humans have investigated the effects of estrogen and hormone therapy on cognition, potential neurobiological correlates of these effects have been less well studied. An important site of action for estrogen in the brain is the cholinergic system. Several decades of research support the critical role of CNS cholinergic systems in cognition in humans, particularly in learning and memory formation and attention. In humans, the cholinergic system has been implicated in many aspects of cognition including the partitioning of attentional resources, working memory, inhibition of irrelevant information, and improved performance on effort-demanding tasks. Studies support the hypothesis that estradiol helps to maintain aspects of attention and verbal and visual memory. Such cognitive domains are exactly those modulated by cholinergic systems and extensive basic and preclinical work over the past several decades has clearly shown that basal forebrain cholinergic systems are dependent on estradiol support for adequate functioning. This paper will review recent human studies from our laboratories and others that have extended preclinical research examining estrogen-cholinergic interactions to humans. Studies examined include estradiol and cholinergic antagonist reversal studies in normal older women, examinations of the neural representations of estrogen-cholinergic interactions using functional brain imaging, and studies of the ability of selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen to interact with cholinergic-mediated cognitive performance. We also discuss the implications of these studies for the underlying hypotheses of cholinergic-estrogen interactions and cognitive aging, and indications for prophylactic and therapeutic potential that may exploit these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Newhouse
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health System, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Julie Dumas
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
The nicotinic cholinergic system function in the human brain. Neuropharmacology 2014; 96:289-301. [PMID: 25446570 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Research on the nicotinic cholinergic system function in the brain was previously mainly derived from animal studies, yet, research in humans is growing. Up to date, findings allow significant advances on the understanding of nicotinic cholinergic effects on human cognition, emotion and behavior using a range of functional brain imaging approaches such as pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography. Studies provided insights across various mechanistic psychological domains using different tasks as well as at rest in both healthy individuals and patient populations, with so far partly mixed results reporting both enhancements and decrements of neural activity related to the nicotinic cholinergic system. Moreover, studies on the relation between brain structure and the nicotinic cholinergic system add important information in this context. The present review summarizes the current status of human brain imaging studies and presents the findings within a theoretical and clinical perspective as they may be useful not only for an advancement of the understanding of basic nicotinic cholinergic-related mechanisms, but also for the development and integration of psychological and pharmacological treatment approaches. Patterns of functional neuroanatomy and neural circuitry across various cognitive and emotional domains may be used as neuropsychological markers of mental disorders such as addiction, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease or schizophrenia, where nicotinic cholinergic system changes are characteristic. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: From Molecular Biology to Cognition'.
Collapse
|
10
|
Nickell JR, Grinevich VP, Siripurapu KB, Smith AM, Dwoskin LP. Potential therapeutic uses of mecamylamine and its stereoisomers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2013; 108:28-43. [PMID: 23603417 PMCID: PMC3690754 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 04/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mecamylamine (3-methylaminoisocamphane hydrochloride) is a nicotinic parasympathetic ganglionic blocker, originally utilized as a therapeutic agent to treat hypertension. Mecamylamine administration produces several deleterious side effects at therapeutically relevant doses. As such, mecamylamine's use as an antihypertensive agent was phased out, except in severe hypertension. Mecamylamine easily traverses the blood-brain barrier to reach the central nervous system (CNS), where it acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist, inhibiting all known nAChR subtypes. Since nAChRs play a major role in numerous physiological and pathological processes, it is not surprising that mecamylamine has been evaluated for its potential therapeutic effects in a wide variety of CNS disorders, including addiction. Importantly, mecamylamine produces its therapeutic effects on the CNS at doses 3-fold lower than those used to treat hypertension, which diminishes the probability of peripheral side effects. This review focuses on the pharmacological properties of mecamylamine, the differential effects of its stereoisomers, S(+)- and R(-)-mecamylamine, and the potential for effectiveness in treating CNS disorders, including nicotine and alcohol addiction, mood disorders, cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Nickell
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Risacher SL, Wang Y, Wishart HA, Rabin LA, Flashman LA, McDonald BC, West JD, Santulli RB, Saykin AJ. Cholinergic Enhancement of Brain Activation in Mild Cognitive Impairment during Episodic Memory Encoding. Front Psychiatry 2013; 4:105. [PMID: 24062699 PMCID: PMC3775540 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the physiological impact of treatment with donepezil (Aricept) on neural circuitry supporting episodic memory encoding in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS Eighteen patients with MCI and 20 age-matched healthy controls (HC) were scanned twice while performing an event-related verbal episodic encoding task. MCI participants were scanned before treatment and after approximately 3 months on donepezil; HC were untreated but rescanned at the same interval. Voxel-level analyses assessed treatment effects on activation profiles in MCI patients relative to retest changes in non-treated HC. Changes in task-related connectivity in medial temporal circuitry were also evaluated, as were associations between brain activation, task-related functional connectivity, task performance, and clinical measures of cognition. RESULTS At baseline, the MCI group showed reduced activation during encoding relative to HC in the right medial temporal lobe (MTL; hippocampal/parahippocampal) and additional regions, as well as attenuated task-related deactivation, relative to rest, in a medial parietal lobe cluster. After treatment, the MCI group showed normalized MTL activation and improved parietal deactivation. These changes were associated with cognitive performance. After treatment, the MCI group also demonstrated increased task-related functional connectivity from the right MTL cluster seed region to a network of other sites including the basal nucleus/caudate and bilateral frontal lobes. Increased functional connectivity was associated with improved task performance. CONCLUSION Pharmacologic enhancement of cholinergic function in amnestic MCI is associated with changes in brain activation and functional connectivity during episodic memory processing which are in turn related to increased cognitive performance. fMRI is a promising biomarker for assessing treatment related changes in brain function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L Risacher
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Neuroimaging, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN , USA ; Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN , USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Berent-Spillson A, Persad CC, Love T, Sowers M, Randolph JF, Zubieta JK, Smith YR. Hormonal environment affects cognition independent of age during the menopause transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012; 97:E1686-94. [PMID: 22730514 PMCID: PMC3431577 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-1365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Cognitive decline is prevalent in aging populations, and cognitive complaints are common during menopause. However, the extent of hormonal influence is unclear, particularly when considered independent of the aging process. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine differences in cognitive function attributable to menopause, hypothesizing that differences would be associated with reproductive rather than chronological age. DESIGN AND SETTING In this cross-sectional study at a university hospital, we combined neuropsychological measures with functional magnetic resonance imaging to comprehensively assess cognitive function. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-seven menopausal women, aged 42-61 yr, recruited from a population-based menopause study, grouped into menopause stages based on hormonal and cycle criteria (premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause), participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Neuropsychological and functional magnetic resonance imaging measures of verbal, visual, and executive cognitive function. RESULTS We found age-independent menopause effects on verbal function. Menopause groups differed in phonemic verbal fluency (F = 3.58, P < 0.019) and regional brain activation (inferior frontal cortex: corrected P < 0.000 right, P < 0.036 left; left prefrontal cortex: P < 0.012); left temporal pole: P < 0.001). Verbal measures correlated with estradiol and FSH (phonemic fluency: R = 0.249, P < 0.047 estradiol, R = -0.275, P < 0.029 FSH; semantic fluency: R = 0.318, P < 0.011 estradiol, R = -0.321, P < 0.010 FSH; right inferior frontal cortex: R = 0.364, P < 0.008 FSH; left inferior frontal cortex: R = -0.431, P < 0.001 estradiol, left prefrontal cortex: R = 0.279, P < 0.045 FSH; left temporal pole: R = -0.310, P < 0.024 estradiol, R = 0.451, P < 0.001 FSH; left parahippocampal gyrus: R = -0.278, P < 0.044 estradiol; left parietal cortex: R = -0.326, P < 0.017 estradiol). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that verbal fluency mechanisms are vulnerable during the menopausal transition. Targeted intervention may preserve function of this critical cognitive domain.
Collapse
|
13
|
Dumas JA, Kutz AM, Naylor MR, Johnson JV, Newhouse PA. Estradiol treatment altered anticholinergic-related brain activation during working memory in postmenopausal women. Neuroimage 2012; 60:1394-403. [PMID: 22266175 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Revised: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Estradiol has been shown to affect cholinergic modulation of cognition in human and nonhuman animal models. This study examined the brain-based interaction of estradiol treatment and anticholinergic challenge in postmenopausal women during the performance of a working memory task and functional MRI. Twenty-four postmenopausal women were randomly and blindly placed on 1mg oral 17-β estradiol or matching placebo pills for three months after which they participated in three anticholinergic challenge sessions. During the challenge sessions, subjects were administered the antimuscarinic drug scopolamine, the antinicotinic drug mecamylamine, or placebo. After drug administration, subjects completed an fMRI session during which time they performed a visual verbal N-back test of working memory. Results showed that scopolamine increased activation in the left medial frontal gyrus (BA 10) and mecamylamine increased activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 46). Estradiol treatment compared to placebo treatment significantly reduced the activation in this left medial frontal region during scopolamine challenge. Estradiol treatment also increased activation in the precuneus (BA 31) during mecamylamine challenge. These data are the first to show that estradiol modulated antimuscarinic- and anitnicotinic-induced brain activity and suggest that estradiol affected cholinergic system regulation of cognition-related brain activation in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Dumas
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 1 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cholinergic modulation of cognition: insights from human pharmacological functional neuroimaging. Prog Neurobiol 2011; 94:360-88. [PMID: 21708219 PMCID: PMC3382716 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2011] [Revised: 06/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from lesion and cortical-slice studies implicate the neocortical cholinergic system in the modulation of sensory, attentional and memory processing. In this review we consider findings from sixty-three healthy human cholinergic functional neuroimaging studies that probe interactions of cholinergic drugs with brain activation profiles, and relate these to contemporary neurobiological models. Consistent patterns that emerge are: (1) the direction of cholinergic modulation of sensory cortex activations depends upon top-down influences; (2) cholinergic hyperstimulation reduces top-down selective modulation of sensory cortices; (3) cholinergic hyperstimulation interacts with task-specific frontoparietal activations according to one of several patterns, including: suppression of parietal-mediated reorienting; decreasing ‘effort’-associated activations in prefrontal regions; and deactivation of a ‘resting-state network’ in medial cortex, with reciprocal recruitment of dorsolateral frontoparietal regions during performance-challenging conditions; (4) encoding-related activations in both neocortical and hippocampal regions are disrupted by cholinergic blockade, or enhanced with cholinergic stimulation, while the opposite profile is observed during retrieval; (5) many examples exist of an ‘inverted-U shaped’ pattern of cholinergic influences by which the direction of functional neural activation (and performance) depends upon both task (e.g. relative difficulty) and subject (e.g. age) factors. Overall, human cholinergic functional neuroimaging studies both corroborate and extend physiological accounts of cholinergic function arising from other experimental contexts, while providing mechanistic insights into cholinergic-acting drugs and their potential clinical applications.
Collapse
|
15
|
Newhouse PA, Potter AS, Dumas JA, Thiel CM. Functional brain imaging of nicotinic effects on higher cognitive processes. Biochem Pharmacol 2011; 82:943-51. [PMID: 21684262 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Significant advances in human functional brain imaging offer new opportunities for direct observation of the effects of nicotine, novel nicotinic agonists and nicotinic antagonists on human cognitive and behavioral performance. Careful research over the last decade has enabled investigators to explore the role of nicotinic systems on the functional neuroanatomy and neural circuitry of cognitive tasks in domains such as selective attention, working memory, episodic memory, cognitive control, and emotional processing. In addition, recent progress in understanding functional connectivity between brain regions utilized during cognitive and emotional processes offers new opportunities for examining drug effects on network-related activity. This review will critically summarize available nicotinic functional brain imaging studies focusing on the specific cognitive domains of attention, memory, behavioral control, and emotional processing. Generally speaking, nicotine appears to increase task-related activity in non-smokers and deprived smokers, but not active smokers. By contrast, nicotine or nicotinic stimulation decreases the activity of structures associated with the default mode network. These particular patterns of activation and/or deactivation may be useful for early drug development and may be an efficient and cost-effective method of screening potential nicotinic agents. Further studies will have to be done to clarify whether such activity changes correlate with cognitive or affective outcomes that are clinically relevant. The use of functional brain imaging will be a key tool for probing pathologic changes related to brain illness and for nicotinic drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Newhouse
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit and Brain Imaging Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dumas JA, Newhouse PA. The cholinergic hypothesis of cognitive aging revisited again: cholinergic functional compensation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2011; 99:254-61. [PMID: 21382398 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Revised: 02/04/2011] [Accepted: 02/27/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
It is now possible to reevaluate the cholinergic hypothesis of age-related cognitive dysfunction based on a synthesis of new evidence from cholinergic stimulation studies and cognitive models. We propose that a change of functional circuitry that can be observed through a combination of pharmacologic challenge and functional neuroimaging is associated with age-related changes in cholinergic system functioning. Psychopharmacological manipulations using cholinergic agonists and antagonists have been consistent in replicating patterns of aging seen in functional imaging studies. In addition, studies of anticholinesterase drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment show support for the proposal that cholinergic compensation causes alterations in task-related brain activity. Thus, the cholinergic hypothesis of age-related cognitive dysfunction deserves further consideration as new methodologies for evaluating its validity are increasingly being used. Future directions for testing hypotheses generated from this model are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Dumas
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit and Brain Imaging Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|