Observations placeholder
Nicotine patches in Alzheimer's disease: pilot study on learning, memory, and safety
Identifier
027599
Type of Spiritual Experience
None
Background
A description of the experience
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1995 Jun-Jul;51(2-3):509-14.
Nicotine patches in Alzheimer's disease: pilot study on learning, memory, and safety.
Wilson AL1, Langley LK, Monley J, Bauer T, Rottunda S, McFalls E, Kovera C, McCarten JR.
Abstract
In view of the cholinergic deficits present in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), a widely investigated treatment strategy for the cognitive deficits in AD is cholinergic stimulation. Although nicotinic cholinergic receptor binding has been demonstrated to be deficient in the AD brain, the predominant theoretical and therapeutic focus to date has been on muscarinic cholinergic receptors and systems.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of sustained nicotine administration on behavior, cognition, and physiology. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in which six patients with probable AD were exposed to 7, 8, and 7 days of placebo, nicotine, and washout, respectively.
Daily sessions evaluating learning, memory, and behavior were conducted. Global cognitive functioning, rest and activity levels, cardiac activity, and blood levels were also measured. Findings included improved learning during the nicotine condition, which persisted throughout washout. Memory, behavior, and global cognition were not significantly affected. Sustained administration of nicotine appeared to be safe, although sleep showed a significant decrease.
PMID:
7667377