Cholinergic Central System, Alzheimer's Disease, and Anesthetics Liaison: A Vicious Circle?

Issue title: Anesthetics and Alzheimer's Disease

Guest editors: Pravat K. Mandalx and Vincenzo Fodaley

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Schifilliti, Daniela^a | Santamaria, Letterio B.^a | Rosa, Giovanni^b | Di Nino, Gianfranco^c | Mandal, Pravat K.^d | Fodale, Vincenzo^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anesthesiological Sciences, University of Messina, Policlinico G.Martino, Messina, Italy | [b] Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Neuroanaesthesia and Neurocritical care, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy | [c] Department of Surgical and Anesthesiological Sciences, University of Bologna. Bologna, Italy | [d] Neurospectroscopy and Neuroimaging Laboratory, National Brain Research Center, Manesar, Gurgaon, India | [x] Neurospectroscopy and Neuroimaging Laboratory, National Brain Research Center, Manesar, Gurgaon, India | [y] Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anesthesiological Sciences, University of Messina, Policlinico G. Martino, Messina, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Vincenzo Fodale, MD, Department of Neuroscience Psychiatric and Anesthesiological Sciences University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Tel.: +39 090 2212774; Fax: +39 090 2212821; E-mail: vfodale@unime.it

Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation and aggregation of amyloid-β peptide and loss of forebrain cholinergic neurons, resulting in progressive loss of memory and irreversible impairment of higher cognitive functions. Several studies have accounted for the close relationship between AD and the central cholinergic system, suggesting that a dysfunction of acetylcholine containing neurons in the brain contributes significantly to the cognitive deficit of individuals with AD. The aim of the present review is to survey current literature on this topic in order to provide a clear understanding of the role of the cholinergic system in the development and neurodegenerative process of AD. The implications for anesthesia are also discussed. This knowledge could be valuable to improve anesthesia performance and patient safety.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-β peptide, anesthesia, anesthetics, central cholinergic system, cholinergic receptors, liaison, neurodegenerative disorders, oligomerization

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-101317

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 22, no. s3, pp. S35-S41, 2010