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Mechanism of action of cholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Håkansson L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04245.x
Subject(s) - tacrine , cholinesterase , physostigmine , acetylcholinesterase , cholinergic , pharmacology , alzheimer's disease , butyrylcholinesterase , mechanism of action , acetylcholine , chemistry , medicine , neuroscience , disease , aché , psychology , enzyme , biochemistry , in vitro
Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as physostigmine and tacrine, have lately gained interest as potential drugs in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Already in the 1950ths, it was discovered that physostigmine and tacrine were potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. However, later studies have shown that cholinesterase inhibitors also interact with cholinergic receptors, with sodium and potassium ion channels and effect the uptake, synthesis and release of neurotransmitters. In summary, cholinesterase inhibitors are drugs with many modes of action, which may be of advantage in the treatment of a complex disorder such as Alzheimer's disease.