Effect of CDP-choline on cognition and immune function in Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia.
The cholinergic dysfunction present in Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be due to a specific vulnerability of cholinergic neurons linked to neurotrophic imbalance, neuroimmune impairment, and/or direct effects of beta-amyloid deposition and NFT formation in ACh neurons. The presence of abnormal epitopes exposed on neuronal membranes may contribute to the activation of resting microglia initiating a neuroimmune cascade leading to cell destruction. According to this hypothesis, a multifactorial treatment in AD should produce: 1) inhibition of beta-amyloid and NFT formation; 2) restoration of neuronal membrane integrity; and 3) control of neuroimmune auto-aggression. Since interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an APP gene promoter showing a progressive increase in body fluids in parallel with mental deterioration in AD patients, we have studied the effects of CDP-choline on cognition, several biological parameters, and IL-1 beta production in AD and multi-infarct dementia (MID) in order to elucidate whether this compound alone or in combination with other drugs is able to restore immune function and improve mental performance in senile dementia.
Cacabelos
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Institute for CNS Disorders, Basic and Clinical Neurosciences Research Center, La Coruña, Spain.
Alvarez
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XA
Franco-Maside
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A
Fernández-Novoa
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L
Caamaño
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J
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D007375:Interleukin-1; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline