Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia, Neurotransmitters and the New Atypical Antipsychotic Aripiprazole

Abstract

Cognition is a group of mental processes that includes the capacity to perceive, think, learn and to study, and the capacity of the brain to analyze information and program adaptive behaviour. Although there has been an appreciable evolution in the therapy of psychoses in the last twenty-five years, cognitive disturbances still persist in spite of antipsychotic treatment. The cognitive decay disrupts the ability of clinically diagnosed patients with psychoses, mainly schizophrenia, to learn and to memorize skills that are useful for their family and social relationships. Moreover, cognitive deficiency is often considered to be crucial for further rehabilitation. In atypical antipsychotics there are big differences in the effects on cognitive functions. Some clinical studies demonstrate the benefits of a third generation of antipsychotics on cognitive functions in patients treated for mental illnesses. In the present study we have reviewed many articles investigating the influence of aripiprazole on cognition in human and animal subjects. Aripiprazole is a third generation antipsychotic drug that possesses a unique pharmacodynamic profile, which in conjunction with recently published scientific data on the drugs' influence on antidepressant, anxiolytic and cognitive functions, suggests a highly positive future potential for restorative cognitive treatment and ongoing healthy function. The data included in the review will contribute to determining the potential benefits of aripiprazole on memory and training processes.

High-frequency neuronavigated rTMS effect on clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction: a pilot double-blind, randomized controlled study in Veterans with schizophrenia

“…Preclinical studies have shown that rTMS causes complex biochemical effects and neurotropic effects by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress 33,34 . For example, studies have revealed that rTMS increases the release of dopamine in certain brain pathways 35 , which is consistent with the hypoactive dopaminergic hypothesis in cognitive deficits of patients with SCZ 36 .…”

Influence of clinical and therapeutic indicators on the severity of neurocognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia

“…Goldberg [24] продемонстрировал, что КАП в целом оказывает умеренное благоприятное действие на когнитивные функции, в то же время доза приема препаратов не влияет на когнитивные функции, что было обнаружено и в нашем исследовании. Использование препаратов третьей генерации связывают со множеством преимуществ, в том числе и с их положительным влиянием на когнитивные функции [25].…”

Effects of Amisulpride Adjunctive Therapy on Working Memory and Brain Metabolism in the Frontal Cortex of Patients with Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography Investigation

“…Furthermore, ami-sulpride is considered superior to first-generation anti-psychotics for improving cognitive symptoms49) and similar to other second-generation antipsychotics for affecting all cognitive domains 50,51). In concordance, aripiprazole has been reported to improve patients’ clinical symptoms and working memory performance by acting as a partial dopamine agonist 52,53)…”