Muscarinic M1 receptor modulation of cognition using a translational approach : relevance for dementia and schizophrenia

Pharmacological research uses substances that create a temporary disturbance of cognitive functions. These substances are used to simulate cognitive disorders that occur with neuropsychiatric diseases in healthy test animals and test persons. In this context, the substance scopolamine often applied. However, unfortunately this involves side-effects. This dissertation shows that biperides, a substance that appears to have a similar effect as scopolamine, could possibly be a better model for the temporary creation of cognitive disorders, particularly with regard to memory. Also, cognitive disorders after intake of biperides appear more comparable to Alzheimer’s disease than to schizophrenia.
This research was financially supported by the ‘Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek’ (ISAO) and Novartis Pharma BV.