The quest for treatment of cognitive impairment: AMPA and mGlu5 receptor modulators

Background: Modulation of synaptic functions holds great potential as therapeutic strategies to manage neurodegenerative disorders in which cognitive functions are usually impaired as a core symptom of the disorders. The α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) and subtype 5 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR5s) are critically involved in a variety of cognitive functions and deficits and their selective modulators may be developed into effective drugs for enhancing cognition and reducing cognitive deficits. Objective: This short review covers recent advances in research development of AMPAR and mGluR5 modulators as potential therapeutics for the treatment of cognitive impairment. Results/conclusion: Selective modulators of AMPARs and mGluR5s possess several advantages over the receptor agonists/antagonists as potential novel therapeutics for cognitive impairment. Positive allosteric modulators have potential therapeutic value in correcting the glutamatergic hypofunction...