Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents approximately seven point eight percent of all school-age children will have been diagnosed with adhd at some point in their lives in tune of is the first selective alpha-2 agonist to be approved for adhd while the mechanism of action of intuniv
Is not known preclinical research is beginning to provide insight into the role that the alpha to a receptor may play in adhd to help us understand the complexity behind adhd we will look at where the symptoms of adhd are believed to originate and our current understanding of the manner in which chemical imbalances in the brain are thought to result in the symptoms
Of this disorder adhd is a neurobiological disorder that has been linked to the prefrontal cortex pfc neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies show that dysregulation within 3 main sub regions of the pfc may result in symptoms exhibited by adhd patients each adhd patients chemical imbalance within these sub regions can be different which may give insight into
Why patients diagnosed with adhd may present with different symptoms or combination of symptoms of this disorder to understand how alpha 2 a receptors may play a key role in ameliorating adhd symptoms we will examine new research that takes a closer look at norepinephrine and what is thought to be occurring at the synapse preclinical research shows norepinephrine is
Released into the synapse through an adjacent axon facilitating the flow of information along the cortical network it is believed that the alpha to a receptor acts as a gating mechanism regulating the strength of the information flow when alpha 2a receptors are unengaged ion channels are open and the signal which carries information is weakened engaging the alpha to
A receptors closes these channels connects the network and strengthens the signal that carries the information this research builds on our existing understanding of the role of the alpha 2a receptors which are prevalent throughout the prefrontal cortex stimulation of the postsynaptic alpha 2a receptors is thought to strengthen working memory reduce susceptibility to
Distraction improve attention regulation improve behavioral inhibition and enhance impulse control the alpha 2a receptor can be stimulated through normal levels of the catecholamine nor epinephrine norepinephrine has high affinity to the alpha 2a receptor increasing the levels of norepinephrine enhances the likelihood of engaging the alpha to a receptor closing the
Ion channel and strengthening the network signal however adhd patients may have low levels of norepinephrine as a result it is believed that the alpha 2a receptor is left unengaged and the strength of the signal is weakened intuniv is the first selective alpha 2a agonist believed to work independently of norepinephrine guanfacine the active ingredient in intuniv
Has been shown to directly engage the alpha 2a receptor close the ion channel and increase the signal strength gwon facin is a selective alpha to a receptor agonist in that it has a 15 to 20 times higher affinity for this receptor subtype then for the alpha to b or alpha to c sub types although the mechanism of action is not known our evolving understanding of
This preclinical research regarding the alpha 2a receptor and guanfacine provides insight into the role into navei play in adhd you you
Transcribed from video
Mechanism of Action of Alpha 2 Agonists in ADHD By Иван Степашин
