Abstract
The world population is growing older and age-related cognitive decline is becoming a burden of societal importance. D-serine is an endogenous amino acid that activates the co-agonist site of the NMDA-glutamate receptor, which is related to cognitive functions, such as learning and memory. Studies in aged rodents have shown a marked decrease in the levels of D-serine in brain regions such as the hippocampus, a key region for encoding memory. Exogenous administration of D-serine in rodents has demonstrated pro-cognitive effects in several brain functions, including memory and executive function. Further to animal studies, our group has observed an agerelated decrease in D-serine in the blood of healthy adults and elderly. The oral administration of D-serine induced significant improvement in executive function and spatial problem solving in elderly, some of the key cognitive domains affected by aging. In this review we propose the activation of the co-agonist site of NMDA receptors as a target to remediate features of the age-related cognitive decline. The cognitive effects of other agents targeting the co-agonist site of NMDA receptors are also discussed.
Keywords: Aging, NMDA receptor, D-serine, cognition, co-agonist site.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:The Co-agonist Site of NMDA-glutamate Receptors: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Age-related Cognitive Decline
Volume: 20 Issue: 32
Author(s): Rogerio Panizzutti, Linda Scoriels and Marcos Avellar
Affiliation:
Keywords: Aging, NMDA receptor, D-serine, cognition, co-agonist site.
Abstract: The world population is growing older and age-related cognitive decline is becoming a burden of societal importance. D-serine is an endogenous amino acid that activates the co-agonist site of the NMDA-glutamate receptor, which is related to cognitive functions, such as learning and memory. Studies in aged rodents have shown a marked decrease in the levels of D-serine in brain regions such as the hippocampus, a key region for encoding memory. Exogenous administration of D-serine in rodents has demonstrated pro-cognitive effects in several brain functions, including memory and executive function. Further to animal studies, our group has observed an agerelated decrease in D-serine in the blood of healthy adults and elderly. The oral administration of D-serine induced significant improvement in executive function and spatial problem solving in elderly, some of the key cognitive domains affected by aging. In this review we propose the activation of the co-agonist site of NMDA receptors as a target to remediate features of the age-related cognitive decline. The cognitive effects of other agents targeting the co-agonist site of NMDA receptors are also discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Panizzutti Rogerio, Scoriels Linda and Avellar Marcos, The Co-agonist Site of NMDA-glutamate Receptors: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Age-related Cognitive Decline, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612819666140110121139
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612819666140110121139 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Blood-based biomarkers in large-scale screening for neurodegenerative diseases
Disease biomarkers are necessary tools that can be employ in several clinical context of use (COU), ranging from the (early) diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, to monitor of disease state and/or drug efficacy. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a battery of well-validated biomarkers are available, such as cerebrospinal fluid ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Diabetes mellitus: advances in diagnosis and treatment driving by precision medicine
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative metabolic disease with ever increasing prevalence worldwide which is now an epidemic disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. Insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells unable to maintain blood glucose homeostasis is the main feature of this disease. Multifactorial and complex nature of ...read more
![](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Translational Molecular Imaging in Drug Development: Current Status and Challenges
Current Medical Imaging Mass Spectrometric Analysis of F2-Isoprostanes: Markers and Mediators in Human Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Analysis The Role of Atropine Eye Drops in Myopia Control
Current Pharmaceutical Design Renin-Angiotensin Antagonists: Therapeutic Effects Beyond Blood Pressure Control?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Effect of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation for the Treatment of Alzheimer´s Disease and its Related Symptoms
Current Alzheimer Research The Importance of Stereochemistry on the Actions of Vitamin D
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry A Dig Deep to Scout the Pharmacological and Clinical Facet of Garlic (<i>Allium sativum</i>)
Current Traditional Medicine Can Environmentally Relevant Levels of Aluminium Promote the Onset and Progression of Neurodegenerative Diseases?
Current Inorganic Chemistry (Discontinued) Consequences of Iron Accumulation in Microglia and its Implications in Neuropathological Conditions
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Chlorogenic Acid and Mental Diseases: From Chemistry to Medicine
Current Neuropharmacology Retrospective Results on the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Different Interferon Regimes in a General Hospital
Current Drug Therapy Beneficial Effects of Lysosome-Modulating and Other Pharmacological and Nanocarrier Agents on Amyloid-beta-treated Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Biomarkers of Protein Oxidation in Human Disease
Current Molecular Medicine Observation of Pain in Dementia
Current Alzheimer Research Animal Models for Parkinson's Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Effect of Red Wine Polyphenols on the Expression of Transthyretin in Murine Choroid Plexus
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Applications of Chemical Shift Imaging for AD
Current Medical Imaging Endothelium and Oxidative Stress: The Pandora's Box of Cerebral (and Non-Only) Small Vessel Disease?
Current Molecular Medicine Immunomodulation Mechanism of Antidepressants: Interactions between Serotonin/Norepinephrine Balance and Th1/Th2 Balance
Current Neuropharmacology Histamine and Histamine Receptor Antagonists in Cancer Biology
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued)