Cholinergic models of memory impairment in animals and man: scopolamine vs. biperiden

Arjan Blokland*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Scopolamine has been used as a pharmacologic model for cognitive impairments in dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The validity of this model seems to be limited because findings in animals do not readily translate to novel treatments in humans. Biperiden is also a cholinergic deficit model for cognitive impairments but specifically blocks muscarinic M1 receptors. The effects of scopolamine and biperiden (and pirenzepine) are compared in animal studies and related to findings in humans. It is concluded that the effects on cognitive functions are different for scopolamine and biperiden, and they should be considered as different cognitive deficit models. Scopolamine may model more advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease whereas biperiden may model the early deficits in declarative memory in aging and mild cognitive impairment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-237
Number of pages7
JournalBehavioural Pharmacology
Volume33
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2022

Keywords

  • COGNITION
  • ELEVATED T-MAZE
  • INHIBITORY AVOIDANCE
  • M-1
  • MUSCARINIC RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS
  • NERVOUS-SYSTEM
  • RECOGNITION MEMORY
  • TASK
  • TERM SPATIAL MEMORY
  • WORKING-MEMORY
  • episodic memory
  • memory impairer
  • pharmacological model

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