title: Neurocognitive effects of acute choline supplementation in low, medium and high performer healthy volunteers.
abstract: Novel pharmacological treatments targeting alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) hypofunction in schizophrenia have shown mixed success in ameliorating cognitive impairments associated with this disorder. Choline, a selective agonist at α7 receptors is increased with oral administration of cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline), the cognitive effects of which were assessed in healthy volunteers. Using the CogState test battery, behavioral performance in schizophrenia-relevant cognitive domains was assessed in 24 male participants following a single low (500mg) and moderate (1000mg) dose of CDP-choline. Relative to placebo, CDP-choline improved processing speed, working memory, verbal learning, verbal memory, and executive function in low baseline performers, while exerting no effects in medium baseline performers, and diminishing cognition in high baseline performers. Dose effects varied with cognitive domain but were evident with both the 500mg and 1000mg doses. These preliminary findings of cognitive enhancement in relatively impaired performers are consistent with the α7 receptor mechanism and support further trials with CDP-choline as a potential pro-cognitive strategy for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
authors: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: Vener.Knott@theroyal.ca.
authors: Verner
authors: V
authors: Knott
authors: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: de la Salle
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Joelle
authors: J
authors: Choueiry
authors: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Impey
authors: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Dylan
authors: D
authors: Smith
authors: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Meaghan
authors: M
authors: Smith
authors: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Elise
authors: E
authors: Beaudry
authors: School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Salman
authors: S
authors: Saghir
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Vadim
authors: V
authors: Ilivitsky
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Labelle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D002794:Choline
keywords: Alpha-7 nicotinic receptors; CDP-choline; CogState battery; Cognition; Healthy volunteers; Performance