Dr.
Charles Scerri,
Dept. of Pharmacy,
University of Malta |
 |
Prof. D.J.K.
Balfour,
Dept. of Psychiatry,
University of Dundee, Scotland
Dr. Kieran Breen,
Alzhiemer's Research Unit,
Dept. of Psychiatry,
University of Dundee, Scotland
Dr. Janet
Mifsud,
Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
University of Malta
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive
disease, characterised by neuronal loss, leading to impairment in the cognitive
and intellectual capacities of the affected individual. AD is defined by its
pathology rather than by its clinical symptoms. The main pathological features
include the presence of neurotoxic beta-amyloid protein and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein. The physiological processes leading to the observed metabolic
abnormalities have not be fully characterised to date. The only therapy available acts on the cholinergic system as there is a decline in the
cholinergic cell population in AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors are widely used as
these prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine in the synaptic area. Other agents
are currently being investigated. Of particular interest is nicotine as it has
been found that it plays an important role in neuroprotection. Furthermore,
epidemiological studies suggest that cigarette smoking can act as a protective
factor in AD. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of nicotine in
protein biochemistry relevant to the pathological lesions implicated in AD, and
it's importance in neural proliferation. |
