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Published in: Current Geriatrics Reports 1/2018

01-03-2018 | Neurology of Aging (K. Marder, Section Editor)

Recent Advances in Cholinergic Imaging and Cognitive Decline—Revisiting the Cholinergic Hypothesis of Dementia

Authors: Nicolaas I. Bohnen, Michel J. Grothe, Nicola J. Ray, Martijn L. T. M. Müller, Stefan J. Teipel

Published in: Current Geriatrics Reports | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Although the cholinergic hypothesis of dementia provided a successful paradigm for the development of new drugs for dementia, this hypothesis has waned in popularity. Cholinergic brain imaging may provide novel insights into the viability of this hypothesis.

Recent Findings

Cholinergic receptor and forebrain volumetric studies suggest an important role of the cholinergic system in maintaining brain network integrity that may deteriorate with cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease (AD) and Lewy body disorders (LBD). Bidirectional changes in regional receptor expression may suggest the presence of compensatory responses to neurodegenerative injury. Cholinergic system changes are more complex in LBD because of additional subcortical degenerations compared to AD. Cholinergic-dopaminergic interactions affect attentional, verbal learning, and executive functions, and impairments in these two transmitter systems may jointly increase the risk of dementia in Parkinson’s disease.

Summary

The cholinergic hypothesis is evolving from a primary focus on memory toward expanded cognitive functions modulated by regionally more complex and interactive brain networks. Cholinergic network adaptation may serve as a novel research target in neurodegeneration.
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Metadata
Title
Recent Advances in Cholinergic Imaging and Cognitive Decline—Revisiting the Cholinergic Hypothesis of Dementia
Authors
Nicolaas I. Bohnen
Michel J. Grothe
Nicola J. Ray
Martijn L. T. M. Müller
Stefan J. Teipel
Publication date
01-03-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Geriatrics Reports / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2196-7865
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-018-0234-4

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