ABSTRACT
In recent decades, pharmacological treatments aimed at improving cognitive function across a wide range of brain disorders have been the center of attention for
15.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 271 15.2 Substrates of Cognition ............................................................................... 272 15.3 Memory and Learning ................................................................................ 273 15.4 Molecular Mechanisms Related to Memory and Cognition ....................... 274 15.5 Neurocognitive Impairment ........................................................................ 275 15.6 Enhancement of Cognitive Function .......................................................... 276 15.7 Cognition Enhancers .................................................................................. 276
15.7.1 Neuropeptides ............................................................................... 276 15.7.1.1 Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Corticotropin-
Releasing Factor .......................................................... 277 15.7.1.2 Cholecystokinin ........................................................... 278 15.7.1.3 Galanin ........................................................................ 279 15.7.1.4 Neuropeptide Y ...........................................................280 15.7.1.5 Opioid-Related Peptides-Dynorphin and Nociceptin ... 281 15.7.1.6 Somatostatin ................................................................284 15.7.1.7 Tachykinins-Substance P .......................................... 285
15.7.2 Growth Factors and Polypeptide Hormones.................................285 15.7.2.1 Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ...........................286 15.7.2.2 Nerve Growth Factor ..................................................287 15.7.2.3 Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 ......................................288 15.7.2.4 Growth Hormone ......................................................... 289
15.8 Concluding Remarks .................................................................................. 291 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 291 References .............................................................................................................. 291
many investigators. In many cases, new drugs that potentially enhance cognitive capabilities have become established in clinical practice. In particular, the efcacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy can be improved by the use of cognition enhancers that augment the core learning processes of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This chapter provides a review of the development and use of peptides and peptidomimetics as cognition enhancers for the treatment of a variety of disorders associated with cognitive impairment.
