Starting to go through some research articles I collected on neurogenesis some of which may be of interest to users of various substances.
It looks like some Hallucinogens may have a positive effect due to promotion of neurogenesis in various parts of the brain. There is a lot of research implicating cell death in psychological disorders such as depression, ptsd, and anxiety. It is also implicated in many degenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers.
The attached article covers some research done using Muscarinic and nicotinic agonists and posits they may be of use in treating Alzheimers and Parkinsons.
Agonist-induced restoration of hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive
improvement in a model of cholinergic denervation
Jackalina M. Van Kampen*, Christopher B. Eckman
Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32246, USA
Loss of basal forebrain cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus and severe neuronal loss within the hippocampal CA1 region are early hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, and are strongly correlated with cognitive status. Various therapeutic approaches involve attempts to enhance neurotransmission or to provide some level of neuroprotection for remaining cells. An alternative approach may involve the generation of new cells to replace those lost in AD. Indeed, a simple shift in the balance between cell generation and cell loss may slow disease progression and possibly even reverse existing cognitive deficits.
One potential neurogenic regulator might be acetylcholine, itself, which has been shown to play a critical role in hippocampal development. Here, we report the effects of various cholinergic compounds on indices of hippocampal neurogenesis, demonstrating a significant induction following pharmacological activation of muscarinic M1 receptors, located on hippocampal progenitors in the adult brain. This is the first report that a small-molecule agonist may induce neurogenesis in the hippocampal CA1 region.
Furthermore, such treatment reversed deficits in markers of neurogenesis and spatial working memory triggered by cholinergic denervation in a rodent model. This study suggests the use of small molecule, receptor agonists may represent a novel means to trigger the restoration of specific neuronal populations lost to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
It looks like some Hallucinogens may have a positive effect due to promotion of neurogenesis in various parts of the brain. There is a lot of research implicating cell death in psychological disorders such as depression, ptsd, and anxiety. It is also implicated in many degenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers.
The attached article covers some research done using Muscarinic and nicotinic agonists and posits they may be of use in treating Alzheimers and Parkinsons.
Agonist-induced restoration of hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive
improvement in a model of cholinergic denervation
Jackalina M. Van Kampen*, Christopher B. Eckman
Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32246, USA
Loss of basal forebrain cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus and severe neuronal loss within the hippocampal CA1 region are early hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, and are strongly correlated with cognitive status. Various therapeutic approaches involve attempts to enhance neurotransmission or to provide some level of neuroprotection for remaining cells. An alternative approach may involve the generation of new cells to replace those lost in AD. Indeed, a simple shift in the balance between cell generation and cell loss may slow disease progression and possibly even reverse existing cognitive deficits.
One potential neurogenic regulator might be acetylcholine, itself, which has been shown to play a critical role in hippocampal development. Here, we report the effects of various cholinergic compounds on indices of hippocampal neurogenesis, demonstrating a significant induction following pharmacological activation of muscarinic M1 receptors, located on hippocampal progenitors in the adult brain. This is the first report that a small-molecule agonist may induce neurogenesis in the hippocampal CA1 region.
Furthermore, such treatment reversed deficits in markers of neurogenesis and spatial working memory triggered by cholinergic denervation in a rodent model. This study suggests the use of small molecule, receptor agonists may represent a novel means to trigger the restoration of specific neuronal populations lost to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Agonist-induced restoration of hippocampal neurogenesis and.pdf