title: Biochemical pathology and treatment strategies in Alzheimer's disease: emphasis on the cholinergic system.
abstract: The neurochemical pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been consistently shown to involve cholinergic degeneration in the cerebral cortex. This together with evidence from experimental animal studies showing that cholinergic neurones play a role in learning and memory processes has formed the basis of the cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer's dementia and the major rationale for neurotransmitter replacement therapy of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winblad
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Messamore
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cowburn
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D000109:Acetylcholine