TY - JOUR
T1 - Alzheimer's disease and age-related memory decline (preclinical)
AU - Terry, Alvin V.
AU - Callahan, Patrick M.
AU - Hall, Brandon
AU - Webster, Scott J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Ms. Ashley Davis for her administrative assistance in preparing this article. These corresponding author's laboratories are supported by the National Institute of Aging ( AG032140 and AG029617 ), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( ES012241 ), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse ( DA029127 ). The corresponding author has also provided consultation or performed research (relevant to this article) in the last three years either contractually or in collaboration with several pharmaceutical companies including Abbott Laboratories, Helicon, Merck, Neuralstem, Neurosearch, Roche Palo Alto, and Servier. This review is dedicated to our close personal friend, mentor, and colleague, the late Dr. Jerry J. Buccafusco whose contributions to the science of drug discovery and development for disorders of cognition spanned more than 25 years.
PY - 2011/8
Y1 - 2011/8
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Cognition
KW - Dementia
KW - Drug development
KW - Mild Cognitive Impairment
KW - Neurotransmitter receptors
KW - Pro-cognitive
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.02.002
DO - 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.02.002
M3 - Review article
C2 - 21315756
AN - SCOPUS:79958283723
SN - 0091-3057
VL - 99
SP - 190
EP - 210
JO - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
JF - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
IS - 2
ER -