Research for the cholinergic basis of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia

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In recent years, greater attention has been given to cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and several studies suggest that this is a primary symptom related to patient QOL. In view of the clinical evidence that acetylcholinesterase inhibitor galantamine, currently used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, improves cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, this study examined to understand the underlying mechanism for the beneficial effect of galantamine. The present result suggests that muscarinic cholinergic system, especially M1 receptors, is involved in the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and in the effect of galantamine. These findings also imply that muscarinic M1 receptor agonists have a novel therapeutic value for cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.