Exam 7: Cognitive Enhancers Flashcards
What are the diseases treated with cognitive-enhancing drugs?
ADHD, Alzheimer disease, schizophrenia, depression, drug addiction
What are the main drugs used to enhance cognitive performance?
caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil
What do amphetamines improve/increase?
Improve mental performance in fatigued subjects, increase ability to focus and maintain self control
What does methylphenidate reduce and increase?
reduces fatigue, has a positive effect on long-term memory consolidation
What does modafinil improve?
improves attention in rested individuals, improves wakefulness, memory and executive functions in sleep-deprived individuals
What is thought to be disordered in individuals with ADHD?
NE and DA pathways in frontal cortex and basal ganglia
What is ADHD characterized by?
Inattentive, hyperactivity, impulsive, usually all happening together
What function does NE play in prefrontal pathway?
sustained and focused attention, mediates energy, fatigue, motivation and interest, working memory
What functions does DA play in the mesocortical pathway?
cognitive functions (sleep, executive functioning, focusing, social cues)
What functions does DA play in the nigrostriatal pathway?
Motor hyperactivity, inpulsivity
What function is does DA play in the mesolimbic pathway?
euphoria (abuse liability)
What does raising DA and NE levels in ADHD patients produce?
reduce symptoms of ADHD
What is the primary mode of actions used to treat ADHD?
raising levels of NE and DA
What are the drugs used to treat ADHD?
Atomoxetine, Dexedrine (amphetamines), Ritalin (Methylphenidate)
Are areas of the prefrontal and limbic cortex activated by psychostimulants at higher or lower doses?
activated at lower doses
Are areas of the brain involved in motor activity and arousal activated by higher or lower doses of psychostimulants?
Higher doses
Where is the action of atomoxetine (strattera)?
highly selective NE reuptake inhibitor, also elevates DA levels in the prefrontal cortex
Does atomoxetine (strattera) have an abuse potential?
no it does not
What are the adverse effects of atomoxetine?
nausea, vomiting, weight loss, sleep problems, liver damage
What disease is atomoxetine used to treat?
ADHD
What are the main pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease?
amyloid plaques, neurofribrillary tangles, loss of neurons (esp. cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain)
What are amyloid plaques?
aggregates of the ABeta fragment of amyloid precursor protein which is produced by the action of Beta and gamma secretases
What are neurofibrillary tangles comprised of?
Tau protein
What accounts for much of the learning and memory deficits of AD patients?
loss of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain nuclei
