Research for the cholinergic basis of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia

近年来，人们对精神分裂症的认知功能障碍给予了更多的关注，一些研究表明，这是与患者生活质量有关的主要症状。鉴于临床证据表明，目前用于治疗阿尔茨海默病的乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制剂加兰他明可以改善精神分裂症的认知功能障碍，本研究旨在了解加兰他明有益作用的潜在机制。提示M胆碱能系统，尤其是M1受体参与了精神分裂症认知功能障碍的病理生理过程，并参与了加兰他明的作用。这些发现还表明，毒碱类M1受体激动剂对精神分裂症的认知功能障碍具有新的治疗价值。

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.