Memory benzodiazepines

Curran, H.V. Benzodiazepines, memory and mood a review. Psvchopharmacologv 105, 1-8, 1991. 

Venault P, Chapouthier G, de Carvalho LP, et al Benzodiazepine impairs and beta-carboline enhances performance in learning and memory tasks. Natme 321 864-866, 1986... 

Bishop KI and Curran HY (1995). Psychopharmacological analysis of implicit and explicit memory A study with lorazepam and the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil. Psychopharmacology, 121, 267-278. 

The clinical consequences of the currently used benzodiazepines range from sedation, muscle relaxation, seizure reduction, anxiolysis, and hypnosis. Clearly, it would be highly desirable to be able to separate some of these effects. In addition, it would be useful to reduce other undesirable consequences such as development of tolerance and dependence, abuse, synergistic interaction with ethanol, and memory impairment (for a comprehensive review see [22]). Animal models for some of the aforementioned conditions, in combination with transgenic mouse technology, have recently led to a deeper understanding of the contribution some of the individual a subunits make to these behaviors. 

Impairment of memory, delirium and immobility are some of the adverse dmg reactions from benzodiazepines. Elderly patients in nursing homes often receive benzodiazepines inappropriately (Oborne et al. 2003). The frailest elderly, who are most susceptible to ADR from benzodiazepines, use these drugs and often for long term. In a Japanese study it was shown that benzodiazepines were prescribed for longer terms as patient age increased (Nomura et al. 2007). Sometimes elderly patients in nursing homes are treated with benzodiazepines without actually talking to their nurse or physician (Holmquist et al. 2005). This makes it hard evaluate the treatment. 

Hebert C, Delaney JA, Hemmelgarn B et al. (2007) Benzodiazepines and elderly drivers a comparison of pharmacoepidemiological study designs. Pharmacoepidemiol Drag Saf 16(8) 845-849 Hemmeter U, Muller M, Bischof R et al. (2000) Effect of zopiclone and temazepam on sleep EEG parameters, psychomotor and memory functions in healthy elderly volunteers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 147(4) 384-396... 

However, it is not the only mechanism, because drugs that do not work at NMDA receptors can impair memory (e.g., benzodiazepines). Other EAA receptors include the ionotropic AMPA and kainate receptors, and the metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR). 

Salgueiro JB, Ardenghi P, Dias M, Ferreira MB, Izquierdo I, Medina JH. (1997). Anxiolytic natural and synthetic flavonoid ligands of the central benzodiazepine receptor have no effect on memory tasks in rats. Pharmacol Blochem Behav. 58(4) 887-91. 

Riedel W, Hogervorst E, Leboux R, Verhey F, van Praag H, Jolles J. (1995). Caffeine attenuates scopolamine-induced memory impairment in humans. Psychopharmacoiogy (Berlin). 122(2) 158-68. Robertson HA. (1980). Harmaline-induced tremor the benzodiazepine receptor as a site of action. 

Benzodiazepine partial inverse agonist MEM 1003 Memory Pharmaceuticals... 

However, there are disadvantages to benzodiazepines. They prodnce sedation and can impair short-term memory and coordination (psychomotor fnnction such as driving). They can magnify the effects of alcohol and are snbject to abuse and withdrawal syndromes. Refer to Section 5.1 for a more extended discussion of benzodiazepines. 

Marsicano G, Wotjak CT, Azad SC, Bisogno T, Rammes G, Cascio MG, Hermann H, Tang J, Hofmann C, Zieglgansberger W, Di Marzo V, Lutz B (2002) The endogenous cannabinoid system controls extinction of aversive memories. Natme 418 530-534 McKeman R, Rosdahl T, Reynolds D, Sur C, Wafford K, Atack J (2000) Sedative but not anxiolytic properties of benzodiazepines are mediated by the GABA-A receptor alpha-1 subtype receptors. Nat Neurosci 3 587-592... 

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