Role of Serotonin in Alzheimer's Disease.

Role of Serotonin in Alzheimer's Disease.

Geldenhuys Werner I; Van der Schyf Cornelis I

CNS Drugs

2011

2011-09

Mounting evidence accumulated over the past few years indicates that the neurotransmitter serotonin plays a significant role in cognition. As a drug target, serotonin receptors have received notable attention due in particular to the role of several serotonin-receptor subclasses in cognition and memory. The intimate anatomical and neurochemical association of the serotonergic system with brain areas that regulate memory and learning has directed current drug discovery programmes to focus on this system as a major ther- apeutic drug target. Thus far, none of these programmes has yielded un- ambiguous data that suggest that any of the new drug entities possesses disease-modifying properties, and significantly more research in this promis- ing area of investigation is required. Compounds are currently being in- vestigated for activity against serotonin 5-HT1, 5-HT4 and 5-HT6 receptors. This review concludes that most work done in the development of selective serotonin receptor ligands is in the pre-clinical or early clinical phase. Also, while many of these compounds will likely find application as adjuvant therapy in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease, there are currently only a few drug entities with activity against serotonin receptors that may offer the potential to alter the progression of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ALZHEIMER'S disease treatment; COGNITION; MEMORY; NEUROTRANSMITTERS; SEROTONIN

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