Effects of 4-Aminopyridine in Elderly Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

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Abstract
To the Editor: Neuronal cholinergic deficiency is possibly a major cause of Alzheimer's disease. Attempts to improve symptomatology have therefore been made either by precursor loading (choline1 or lecithin2), with poor results, or by use of cholinesterase inhibitors (physostigmine3 or tetrahydroaminoacridine4) and direct stimulants (arecoline5), resulting in moderate improvements in recent memory and cognition.By blocking potassium channels in neuronal terminals, 4-amino-pyridine enhances calcium influx into the neuron; as a consequence, the nerve action potential is prolonged, and thus, transmitter release increased.6 Though this release is principally nonselective, there is evidence that mainly cholinergic transmission is involved. . . .

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