Prospects of memory-modifying drugs that target the CREB pathway

The quest to find safe and effective drugs to treat memory disorders and decline in humans has been aided by the understanding of the molecules underlying memory formation. Studies from vertebrates and invertebrates have identified molecules that are specifically required for converting memories into a long-lasting and stable form. Due to the fact that the activation of the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is critical for converting short- to long-term memory, the molecules required for CREB activation and function are potentially important targets for memory-modifying drugs. The progress, prospects, challenges and limitations of drugs targeting the CREB pathway are reviewed here in the context of molecular mechanisms and the biology of memory.