Acetylcholine
is a neurotransmitter,
one of the chemicals that neurons
use to communicate with each other.
In the body, acetylcholine is the primary
neurotransmitter which nerves use to signal muscles to initiate
or cease movement. Botulinism toxin, the substance that causes
botulism, works by preventing the release of acetylcholine
in the body; this can paralyze respiratory muscles, causing
suffocation and death. The venom of the black widow spider
causes an equally lethal overrelease of acetylcholine -- flooding
the system.
In the brain, acetylcholine is produced
in several locations including the basal
forebrain. It may promote learning. Acetylcholine-producing
cells in the basal forebrain are damaged in the early stages
of Alzheimer's disease,
which may contribute to the memory impairments which are an
early symptom of the disease. The drugs tacrine (brand name
Cognex) and donepezil (trade name Aricept), currently marketed
as Alzheimer's drugs, are cholinesterase
inhibitors, meaning that they increase the effectiveness
of acetylcholine in the brain.
by Catherine E. Myers. Copyright © 2006 Memory Loss and the Brain
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