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Chen L, Jiao J, Zhang Y. Therapeutic approaches for improving cognitive function in the aging brain. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1060556. [PMID: 36570840 PMCID: PMC9773601 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1060556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid aging of populations around the world has become an unprecedented challenge. Aging is associated with cognitive impairment, including dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Successful drug development for improving or maintaining cognition in the elderly is critically important. Although 4 drugs for improving cognition in Alzheimer's disease have been approved, a variety of potential drugs targeting age-related cognitive impairment are still in development. In addition, non-pharmacological interventions, including cognition-oriented treatments, non-invasive brain stimulation physical exercise, and lifestyle-related interventions, have also been suggested as cognitive enhancers in the last decade. In this paper, we reviewed the recent evidence of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving or maintaining cognition in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingmin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and The Research Units of West China (2018RU012), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Jiao
- Department of Anesthesiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and The Research Units of West China (2018RU012), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Periodical Press and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Yonggang Zhang,
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Targeting phosphodiesterase 4 as a therapeutic strategy for cognitive improvement. Bioorg Chem 2022; 130:106278. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ward SE, Harries MH, Aldegheri L, Bradford AM, Ballini E, Dawson L, Lacroix L, Pardoe J, Starr K, Weil A, Waters K, Atack JR, Woolley M. Pharmacological characterisation of MDI-222, a novel AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator with an improved safety profile. J Psychopharmacol 2020; 34:93-102. [PMID: 31766938 PMCID: PMC7610887 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119872198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is considerable interest in positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors as therapeutic agents for a range of cognitive and mood disorders. However, the challenge is to increase AMPA receptor (AMPAR) function sufficient to enhance cognitive function but not to the extent that there are mechanism-related pro-convulsant or convulsant side effects. In this present study, we report the preclinical pharmacology data for MDI-222, an AMPAR PAM which enhances cognition but has a much reduced side-effect (i.e. convulsant) liability relative to other molecules of this mechanism. METHODS The pharmacological effects of MDI-222 were characterised in in vitro and in vivo preclinical electrophysiology, efficacy (cognition), side-effect (pro-convulsant/convulsant), tolerability and toxicity assays. RESULTS We demonstrate that MDI-222 is an AMPAR PAM, since it enhanced AMPAR function in vitro at human (hGluA1-4) and rat (rGluA2) homomeric receptors, and potentiated hetero-oligomeric AMPARs in rat neurons. MDI-222 enhanced electrically evoked AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in the anaesthetised rat at 10 mg/kg (administered intravenously) and did not significantly lower the seizure threshold in the pro-convulsant maximal electroshock threshold test (MEST) at any dose tested up to a maximum of 30 mg/kg (administered by oral gavage (p.o.)). MDI-222 reversed a delay-induced deficit in novel object recognition (NOR) in rats with a minimum effective dose (MED) of 0.3 mg/kg (p.o.) following acute administration, which was reduced to 0.1 mg/kg following sub-chronic administration, and improved passive avoidance performance in scopolamine-impaired rats with a MED of 10 mg/kg p.o. On the other hand, MDI-222 was not pro-convulsant in the MEST, resulting in a therapeutic window between plasma concentrations that enhanced cognitive performance and those associated with mechanism-related side effects of ⩾1000-fold. Unfortunately, despite the excellent preclinical profile of this compound, further development had to be halted due to non-mechanism-related issues. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that MDI-222 is an AMPAR PAM which enhances cognitive performance in rats and has a significantly improved safety profile in preclinical species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon E Ward
- Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom,Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre, Via A. Fleming 4, 37100 Verona, Italy
| | - Mark H Harries
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Aldegheri
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre, Via A. Fleming 4, 37100 Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea M Bradford
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Ballini
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre, Via A. Fleming 4, 37100 Verona, Italy
| | - Lee Dawson
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Laurent Lacroix
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Pardoe
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Starr
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Annette Weil
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - Kerry Waters
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
| | - John R Atack
- Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Woolley
- Neurosciences Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5AW, United Kingdom
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Irwin MH, Moos WH, Faller DV, Steliou K, Pinkert CA. Epigenetic Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases. Drug Dev Res 2016; 77:109-23. [PMID: 26899010 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical Research In this review, we discuss epigenetic-driven methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, focusing on carnitinoid antioxidant-histone deacetylase inhibitors that show an ability to reinvigorate synaptic plasticity and protect against neuromotor decline in vivo. Aging remains a major risk factor in patients who progress to dementia, a clinical syndrome typified by decreased mental capacity, including impairments in memory, language skills, and executive function. Energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction are viewed as determinants in the aging process that may afford therapeutic targets for a host of disease conditions, the brain being primary in such thinking. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a core feature in the pathophysiology of both Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases and rare mitochondrial diseases. The potential of new therapies in this area extends to glaucoma and other ophthalmic disorders, migraine, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, systemic exertion intolerance disease, and chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment. An emerging and hopefully more promising approach to addressing these hard-to-treat diseases leverages their sensitivity to activation of master regulators of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, antioxidant response elements, and mitophagy. Drug Dev Res 77 : 109-123, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Irwin
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Walter H Moos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,SRI Biosciences, A Division of SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Douglas V Faller
- Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kosta Steliou
- Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,PhenoMatriX, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carl A Pinkert
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
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Wright JW, Kawas LH, Harding JW. The development of small molecule angiotensin IV analogs to treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2014; 125:26-46. [PMID: 25455861 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases are neurodegenerative diseases presently without effective drug treatments. AD is characterized by general cognitive impairment, difficulties with memory consolidation and retrieval, and with advanced stages episodes of agitation and anger. AD is increasing in frequency as life expectancy increases. Present FDA approved medications do little to slow disease progression and none address the underlying progressive loss of synaptic connections and neurons. New drug design approaches are needed beyond cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists. Patients with PD experience the symptomatic triad of bradykinesis, tremor-at-rest, and rigidity with the possibility of additional non-motor symptoms including sleep disturbances, depression, dementia, and autonomic nervous system failure. This review summarizes available information regarding the role of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in learning and memory and motor functions, with particular emphasis on research results suggesting a link between angiotensin IV (AngIV) interacting with the AT4 receptor subtype. Currently there is controversy over the identity of this AT4 receptor protein. Albiston and colleagues have offered convincing evidence that it is the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP). Recently members of our laboratory have presented evidence that the brain AngIV/AT4 receptor system coincides with the brain hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met receptor system. In an effort to resolve this issue we have synthesized a number of small molecule AngIV-based compounds that are metabolically stable, penetrate the blood-brain barrier, and facilitate compromised memory and motor systems. These research efforts are described along with details concerning a recently synthesized molecule, Dihexa that shows promise in overcoming memory and motor dysfunctions by augmenting synaptic connectivity via the formation of new functional synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Wright
- Departments of Psychology, Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience and Program in Biotechnology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4820, USA; M3 Biotechnology, Inc., 4000 Mason Rd Suite 300, Box 352141, Seattle, WA 98195-2141, USA.
| | - Leen H Kawas
- Departments of Psychology, Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience and Program in Biotechnology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4820, USA; M3 Biotechnology, Inc., 4000 Mason Rd Suite 300, Box 352141, Seattle, WA 98195-2141, USA
| | - Joseph W Harding
- Departments of Psychology, Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience and Program in Biotechnology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4820, USA; M3 Biotechnology, Inc., 4000 Mason Rd Suite 300, Box 352141, Seattle, WA 98195-2141, USA
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Ostrovskaya RU, Vakhitova YV, Kuzmina US, Salimgareeva MK, Zainullina LF, Gudasheva TA, Vakhitov VA, Seredenin SB. Neuroprotective effect of novel cognitive enhancer noopept on AD-related cellular model involves the attenuation of apoptosis and tau hyperphosphorylation. J Biomed Sci 2014; 21:74. [PMID: 25096780 PMCID: PMC4422191 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-014-0074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Noopept (N-phenyl-acetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester) was constructed as a dipeptide analog of the standard cognition enhancer, piracetam. Our previous experiments have demonstrated the cognition restoring effect of noopept in several animal models of Alzheimer disease (AD). Noopept was also shown to prevent ionic disbalance, excitotoxicity, free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines accumulation, and neurotrophine deficit typical for different kinds of brain damages, including AD. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective action of noopept on cellular model of AD, Aβ25–35-induced toxicity in PC12 cells and revealed the underlying mechanisms. Results The neuroprotective effect of noopept (added to the medium at 10 μM concentration, 72 hours before Аβ25–35) was studied on Аβ25–35-induced injury (5 μM for 24 h) in PC12 cells. The ability of drug to protect the impairments of cell viability, calcium homeostasis, ROS level, mitochondrial function, tau phosphorylation and neurite outgrowth caused by Аβ25–35 were evaluated. Following the exposure of PC12 cells to Аβ25–35 an increase of the level of ROS, intracellular calcium, and tau phosphorylation at Ser396 were observed; these changes were accompanied by a decrease in cell viability and an increase of apoptosis. Noopept treatment before the amyloid-beta exposure improved PC12 cells viability, reduced the number of early and late apoptotic cells, the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and calcium and enhanced the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, pretreatment of PC12 cell with noopept significantly attenuated tau hyperphosphorylation at Ser396 and ameliorated the alterations of neurite outgrowth evoked by Аβ25–35. Conclusions Taken together, these data provide evidence that novel cognitive enhancer noopept protects PC12 cell against deleterious actions of Aβ through inhibiting the oxidative damage and calcium overload as well as suppressing the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Moreover, neuroprotective properties of noopept likely include its ability to decrease tau phosphorylation and to restore the altered morphology of PC12 cells. Therefore, this nootropic dipeptide is able to positively affect not only common pathogenic pathways but also disease-specific mechanisms underlying Aβ-related pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita U Ostrovskaya
- Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology RAS, Baltiyskaya 8, 125315, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Yulia V Vakhitova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics Ufa Scientific Centre RAS, Prospect Oktyabrya, 71, 450054, Ufa, Russia.
| | - Uliyana Sh Kuzmina
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics Ufa Scientific Centre RAS, Prospect Oktyabrya, 71, 450054, Ufa, Russia.
| | - Milyausha Kh Salimgareeva
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics Ufa Scientific Centre RAS, Prospect Oktyabrya, 71, 450054, Ufa, Russia.
| | - Liana F Zainullina
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics Ufa Scientific Centre RAS, Prospect Oktyabrya, 71, 450054, Ufa, Russia.
| | - Tatiana A Gudasheva
- Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology RAS, Baltiyskaya 8, 125315, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Vener A Vakhitov
- Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics Ufa Scientific Centre RAS, Prospect Oktyabrya, 71, 450054, Ufa, Russia.
| | - Sergey B Seredenin
- Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology RAS, Baltiyskaya 8, 125315, Moscow, Russia.
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Richter W, Menniti FS, Zhang HT, Conti M. PDE4 as a target for cognition enhancement. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2013; 17:1011-27. [PMID: 23883342 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2013.818656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The second messengers cAMP and cGMP mediate fundamental aspects of brain function relevant to memory, learning, and cognitive functions. Consequently, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), the enzymes that inactivate the cyclic nucleotides, are promising targets for the development of cognition-enhancing drugs. AREAS COVERED PDE4 is the largest of the 11 mammalian PDE families. This review covers the properties and functions of the PDE4 family, highlighting procognitive and memory-enhancing effects associated with their inactivation. EXPERT OPINION PAN-selective PDE4 inhibitors exert a number of memory- and cognition-enhancing effects and have neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties in preclinical models. The major hurdle for their clinical application is to target inhibitors to specific PDE4 isoforms relevant to particular cognitive disorders to realize the therapeutic potential while avoiding side effects, in particular emesis and nausea. The PDE4 family comprises four genes, PDE4A-D, each expressed as multiple variants. Progress to date stems from characterization of rodent models with selective ablation of individual PDE4 subtypes, revealing that individual subtypes exert unique and non-redundant functions in the brain. Thus, targeting specific PDE4 subtypes, as well as splicing variants or conformational states, represents a promising strategy to separate the therapeutic benefits from the side effects of PAN-PDE4 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wito Richter
- University of California San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94143-0556, USA.
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Albiston AL, Diwakarla S, Fernando RN, Mountford SJ, Yeatman HR, Morgan B, Pham V, Holien JK, Parker MW, Thompson PE, Chai SY. Identification and development of specific inhibitors for insulin-regulated aminopeptidase as a new class of cognitive enhancers. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 164:37-47. [PMID: 21470200 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01402.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Two structurally distinct peptides, angiotensin IV and LVV-haemorphin 7, both competitive high-affinity inhibitors of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP), were found to enhance aversion-associated and spatial memory in normal rats and to improve performance in a number of memory tasks in rat deficits models. These findings provide compelling support for the development of specific, high-affinity inhibitors of the enzyme as new cognitive enhancing agents. Different classes of IRAP inhibitors have been developed including peptidomimetics and small molecular weight compounds identified through in silico screening with a homology model of the catalytic domain of IRAP. The proof of principal that inhibition of IRAP activity results in facilitation of memory has been obtained by the demonstration that the small-molecule IRAP inhibitors also exhibit memory-enhancing properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L Albiston
- Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Winblad B, Giacobini E, Frölich L, Friedhoff LT, Bruinsma G, Becker RE, Greig NH. Phenserine efficacy in Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2011; 22:1201-8. [PMID: 20930279 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2010-101311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To gather preliminary evidence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) for the efficacy of phenserine, a non-competitive acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that has independent modulatory effects on amyloid-β generation, a 12-week comparison of patients receiving phenserine (10 and 15 mg BID) or placebo was conducted under double-blind conditions. Patients who completed 12 weeks of the double-blind before others were continued in the double-blind to determine longer-term treatment effects. At 12 weeks, mean ADAS-cog (AD assessment scale-cognitive) changes from baseline were -2.5 and -1.9 for high-dose phenserine (n=83) and placebo (n=81) groups, respectively, a non-statistically significant improvement for the high-dose phenserine group relative to placebo. CIBIC+ (clinician's interview based impression of change + caregiver's input) values for the high-dose and placebo groups were similar at 12 weeks. For patients who received more than 12 weeks of therapy, the ADAS-cog changes were -3.18 and -0.66 for the high-dose phenserine (n=52) and placebo (n=63) groups, respectively, a difference achieving statistical significance (p=0.0286). After 12 weeks, CIBIC+ values were 3.59 and 3.95 for the high-dose (n=54) and placebo (n=66) groups respectively (p=0.0568). These results from this short-term study are consistent with phenserine potentially benefiting mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease symptomatically but do not address possible amyloid metabolic mediated effects on disease processes in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bengt Winblad
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Plath N, Lerdrup L, Larsen PH, Redrobe JP. Can small molecules provide truly effective enhancement of cognition? Current achievements and future directions. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2011; 20:795-811. [PMID: 21510828 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2011.574612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The prevalence of age-related diseases that implicate a deterioration of cognitive abilities is increasing. Moreover, cognitive decline occurs in numerous CNS disorders affecting patients at younger ages as well, resulting in reduced functional ability and quality of life. Despite the existence of few medications treating cognition, the need for efficacious treatment options to alleviate, halt or even prevent cognitive decline is generally unmet to date. Consequently, extensive research efforts are undertaken to identify medications that can effectively enhance cognition. AREAS COVERED This review covers ongoing clinical trials for cognition and reflects on efforts undertaken to increase the success rates of procognitive drug treatment. The review discusses ways to optimize the drug development process for cognition enhancing agents at the preclinical to clinical interface and provides concrete examples. EXPERT OPINION The existing efficacy readouts addressing cognition in preclinical research offer little translational validity to the clinical situation. In order to identify truly efficacious drug candidates, biomarkers need to be developed that directly address conserved mechanisms underlying cognitive performances. To this end, technologies such as neuroimaging or electroencephalography constitute promising entry points for identifying both the cognitive domain and the patient population most responsive to drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Plath
- Synaptic Transmission, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark.
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Terry AV, Callahan PM, Hall B, Webster SJ. Alzheimer's disease and age-related memory decline (preclinical). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2011; 99:190-210. [PMID: 21315756 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2010] [Revised: 01/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
An unfortunate result of the rapid rise in geriatric populations worldwide is the increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a devastating neurodegenerative illness that is characterized by a profound impairment of cognitive function, marked physical disability, and an enormous economic burden on the afflicted individual, caregivers, and society in general. The rise in elderly populations is also resulting in an increase in individuals with related (potentially treatable) conditions such as "Mild Cognitive Impairment" (MCI) which is characterized by a less severe (but abnormal) level of cognitive impairment and a high-risk for developing dementia. Even in the absence of a diagnosable disorder of cognition (e.g., AD and MCI), the perception of increased forgetfulness and declining mental function is a clear source of apprehension in the elderly. This is a valid concern given that even a modest impairment of cognitive function is likely to be associated with significant disability in a rapidly evolving, technology-based society. Unfortunately, the currently available therapies designed to improve cognition (i.e., for AD and other forms of dementia) are limited by modest efficacy and adverse side effects, and their effects on cognitive function are not sustained over time. Accordingly, it is incumbent on the scientific community to develop safer and more effective therapies that improve and/or sustain cognitive function in the elderly allowing them to remain mentally active and productive for as long as possible. As diagnostic criteria for memory disorders evolve, the demand for pro-cognitive therapeutic agents is likely to surpass AD and dementia to include MCI and potentially even less severe forms of memory decline. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the contemporary therapeutic targets and preclinical pharmacologic approaches (with representative drug examples) designed to enhance memory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Small Animal Behavior Core, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
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