Pharmacology of Memory

Question 1

what are the macroscopic changes in AD?

Answer 1

brain shrinkage and ventricle englargement

Question 2

what are the cellular changes in AD?

Answer 2

amyloid plaques develop, there are neurofibrillary tangles, and mitochondrial dysfunction

Question 3

which three areas, associated with memory, are most affected by AD?

Answer 3

the hippocampus, the entorhinal cortex, and the neocortex

Question 4

what is the cholinergic hypothesis?

Answer 4

based on the ach of the brain and related to the most severe cases of AD which result from a loss of cholinergic neurons within the basal forebrain

Question 5

what are the presynaptic and postsynaptic changes to the cholinergic pathway in AD?

Answer 5

pre = degeneration of axons which project from basal forebrain to cortex an dlimbic system
post = loss of nAChRs in the cortex and dysfunctional muscarinic M1 receptors

Question 6

what is a target for treating memory loss associated with AD?

Answer 6

target acetylcholinesterases (these enzymes breakdown synaptic ach)
so we want to inhibit these enzymes to allow ach levels to accumulate

Question 7

what are three AChE inhibitory drugs?

Answer 7

rivastigmine
donepzil
galantamine

Question 8

what is memantine?

Answer 8

a non-competitive antagonsit for nmda glutamate receptor = NMDAR

Question 9

how is glutamate implemented in AD pathogenesis?

Answer 9

suggested that hyperfunction of glutaminergic synapses interfere with memory and cognition

Question 10

what are four examples of drugs that can disrupt memory?

Answer 10

ethanol (alcohol), benzodiazepine, cannabis, and nicotine

Question 11

what are three examples of drugs that can enhance memory?

Answer 11

modanifil, methylphenidate (ritalin), fisetin

Question 12

what are two ethical considerations surrounding memory enhancement?

Answer 12

philosophical and real-world considerations