Dr Paul Gard, Dr Anne Jackson and Dr Andrew Overall
Research fellow Dr Jelena Nesic
Phd students: Bruno Golding, Kevin Butler, Nora Abammy and Aisha El-Turki
Neurobiological mechanisms involved in the psychopharmacological effects of nicotine
At the University of Brighton we are studying the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the psychological effects of nicotine in humans. Nicotine is the main addictive constituent of tobacco smoke, but it also has some positive effects on attention and memory. These studies should not only help us to understand more about addiction to tobacco, but because problems of attention and memory are common in psychiatric disease, they should also tell us more about the possible therapeutically useful aspects of the pharmacology of nicotine. Some of our recent results, investigating the role of glutamate, suggest that there may be a dissociation in the neurochemical mechanisms underlying some of the addictive properties of nicotine and those related to the beneficial effects on cognition. This is a positive finding from the point of view of developing new medicines.
The role of angiotensin in cognition
Drugs that modulate the renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor antagonists) are probably best known for their use as treatments for high blood pressure. At the University of Brighton our studies are aimed at another important property of these compounds – their ability to enhance cognition. Recent work, in conjunction with collaborators at the University of Sussex, has indicated that losartan (an antagonist) can have positive actions on memory in humans, independently of its ability to lower blood pressure. These important results not only suggest a role for angiotensin in higher order brain function, but may also provide new directions for the treatment of memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Genetic polymorphisms and psychopharmacology
An emerging theme from our group is our work on genetic polymorphisms and responses to drug treatments, particularly in the context of addiction, cognition and depression. One aspect of this work involves a collaboration with the Universities of Bristol and Oxford in a nicotine pharmacogenetic study. Another component, supported by a University of Brighton-funded studentship, is investigating the relationship of gene polymorphisms in in-bred and out-bred mice and the strain differences in the behavioural and cognitive responses to manipulation of the brain renin-angiotensin system.
Recent Publications
University of Sussex Collaborators
Professor Theodora Duka
Professor Jennifer Rusted
Rasha Mechaeil
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