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Anticholinesterase Inhibitors

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Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology

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Synonyms

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; ACHE inhibitors; AchEIs; CHEIs; Cholinesterase inhibitors

Definition

A class of substances that target the cholinergic neurotransmitter system and are often used in the treatment of memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nonclinical uses include agricultural applications such as pesticides and military applications such as the development of neurotoxins. Acetylcholine is normally released by the presynpatic neuron and activates receptors on the postsynaptic cell. Acetylcholinesterase is the primary enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft. Agents such as cholinesterase inhibitors block the activity of this enzyme, allowing the neurotransmitter substance to remain in the synaptic cleft longer to stimulate postsynaptic receptors (see Cholinesterase Inhibitors).

Current Knowledge

Clinical Indications

Cholinesterase inhibitors (CHEI) are often used in the treatment of memory and other cognitive disorders. In AD,...

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References and Readings

  • Feldman, R. S., Meyer, J. S., & Quenzer, L. F. (1997). Acetylcholine. In Principles of Neuropsychoparhmacology (pp. 246–249). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, Inc.

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  • Iversen, L. L., Iversen, S. D., Bloom, F. E., & Roth, R. H. (2008). Acetylcholine. In Introduction to Neuropsychopharmacology (pp. 128–149). New York: Oxford University Press.

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  • Orgogozo, J.-M. (2003). Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with cholinesterase inhibitors. An update on currently used drugs. In K. Iqbal & B. Winblad (Eds.), Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders: Research advances (pp. 663–675). Bucharest: Ana Asian Intl. Acad. of Aging.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Epidemiologic Studies, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

    JoAnn T. Tschanz

  2. Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

    Elizabeth Vernon

Authors
  1. JoAnn T. Tschanz
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  2. Elizabeth Vernon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to JoAnn T. Tschanz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Richmond, Virgin Islands, USA

    Jeffrey Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation , West Orange, New Jersey, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Suite 200 , Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA

    Bruce Caplan

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Tschanz, J.T., Vernon, E. (2018). Anticholinesterase Inhibitors. In: Kreutzer, J., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_1770-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_1770-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

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