Mechanism of psychoactive substance-induced cognitive disorders: does tau protein play a role?

Abstract

Psychoactive substances are a class of chemical substances which could cause public health threats. Cognitive disorders are a category of mental health disorders that primarily affect cognitive abilities. Tau protein could maintain neuronal cytoskeleton stabilization. Post-translational modification of tau, especially phosphorylation, is an important way to regulate the structure and function of tau and phosphorylated tau is closely related to cognitive function. Lots of studies have reported the phenomenon that psychoactive substances can cause cognitive function impairment. We reviewed recent related studies and discussed them by drug classification. We mainly focused on cognitive disorders caused by acute or chronic exposure of each drugs, animal experiments and the mechanisms associated with tau phosphorylation, then compared the similarities and differences among them, trying to find out the common rules. The results suggested that tau phosphorylation is involved in psychoactive substance-induced cognitive disorder and different psychoactive substances may act by affecting amount or activity of different kinases and phosphatases in the metabolic pathway of tau. We demonstrated that tau protein is a potential target for psychoactive substances induced cognitive disorder treatments.

Disembodied Language in Early-Onset Schizophrenia

“…Lifetime symptomatology was assessed using Operational Criteria for Psychotic Symptoms (OPCRIT) ( 23 ). Exclusion criteria for the study group were established to disclose organic or secondary psychosis with similar symptoms and medical states that might impact cognitive functioning and were as follow: abnormalities in the basic laboratory blood tests (full blood count, thyroid hormones(thyroid function tests [TSH], free T3 [fT3], and free t4 [fT4]) ( 24 ) and inflammatory markers[C-reactive protein [CRP], sedimentation rate)], acute intoxication or withdrawal state regarding alcohol or psychoactive substances (verified with the urinary test) ( 25 ), and medical states requiring immediate intervention [exacerbation of a chronic disease, post-operational state, ( 26 )]. For the healthy control group, exclusion criteria were as follows: past or current history of psychiatric disease (verified with Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI 7.0.2) ( 27 ), familiar burden with psychiatric disease in first- and second-degree relatives, medical states requiring immediate intervention (as above), abnormalities in the basic laboratory blood tests (as listed above), and acute intoxication or withdrawal state from psychoactive substances.…”

Association between selenium intake and cognitive function among older adults in the US: a critical analysis

“…( 5 ) These substances also shown to cause hyperphosphorylation of Tau proteins in the brain, which led to neuronal damage and cognitive impairment. ( 6 ) Thus, further research is needed on cancer drugs as well as other psychoactive substances to help clarify the direct effects of selenium on oxidants and cognitive impairment, leading to further advancements in the field.…”