Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines01:19

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines

1.1K
Benzodiazepines have both sedative and hypnotic properties. They include compounds such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Structurally, their cores are similar, consisting of the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring, but they share a common mechanism of action in the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
1.1K
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines01:14

CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

1.6K
CNS depressants include drugs from the category of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They are valuable medications for managing anxiety disorders and insomnia. Barbiturates, once used to induce and maintain sleep, have been replaced mainly by benzodiazepines due to barbiturate's toxicity, tolerance, and overdose risks. They interact with GABAA receptors, leading to sedation at low doses and potentially coma and death at higher doses. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, possesses...
1.6K
Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone01:29

Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone

2.9K
Benzodiazepines are a class of anxiolytic drugs known for their rapid efficacy and high therapeutic-to-lethal dose ratio, but with a potential risk of drug dependence. These drugs are lipophilic, allowing for rapid absorption after oral administration, eventually reaching the central nervous system (CNS). Once in the CNS, benzodiazepines bind to the allosteric site of the GABAA receptor. This binding enhances the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. By doing so, they prevent...
2.9K
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

793
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
793
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

308
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
308
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

339
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
339

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Autism in neurofibromatosis type 1: prevalence, phenotype and clinical implications.

Molecular autism·2026
Same author

From urge to action: an integrative neuropsychological model of tic generation in Tourette syndrome.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026
Same author

Identifying diagnostic biomarkers in functional motor disorders through multimodal behavioral, neurophysiological, and imaging assessment using explainable machine learning.

Journal of neurology·2026
Same author

Staged Bilateral Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Essential Tremor: Prospective Single-Centre Cohort and Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

European journal of neurology·2026
Same author

Non-invasive brain stimulation for treating cognitive and neuropsychiatric non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026
Same author

A multi-level annotated sensor dataset of gait freezing manifestations and severity in Parkinson's disease.

Scientific data·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
07:02

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development

Published on: February 11, 2019

10.3K

Multifocal cognitive dysfunction in high-dose benzodiazepine users: a cross-sectional study.

Angela Federico1, Stefano Tamburin2, Alice Maier1

  • 1Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Piazzale Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|October 13, 2016
PubMed
Summary

High-dose benzodiazepine (BZD) dependence significantly impairs cognitive functions like memory and attention. These cognitive deficits, linked to cumulative BZD dose, warrant consideration in patient care and safety assessments.

Keywords:
AttentionBenzodiazepineClinical neuropsychologyDrug abuseExecutive functionsMemory

More Related Videos

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
12:18

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: January 11, 2020

8.2K
Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients
07:42

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2026

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
07:02

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development

Published on: February 11, 2019

10.3K
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
12:18

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: January 11, 2020

8.2K
Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients
07:42

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Published on: December 16, 2022

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are widely prescribed but carry risks of tolerance, dependence, and abuse.
  • Previous studies on cognitive deficits in BZD users may be confounded by age, comorbidities, or concurrent substance use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neuropsychological effects of high-dose benzodiazepine dependence, an emerging addiction.
  • To assess cognitive functions in individuals with high-dose BZD dependence, excluding confounding factors.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited a cohort of high-dose BZD users without neurological/psychiatric comorbidities (except anxiety/depression) or other substance dependence.
  • Administered a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests assessing verbal and visuospatial memory, working memory, attention, and executive functions.
  • Compared cognitive performance between BZD users and a control group.

Main Results:

  • High-dose BZD users exhibited significantly poorer performance across all tested neuropsychological measures compared to controls.
  • Cognitive deficits were correlated with the cumulative dose of benzodiazepines.
  • The severity of anxiety and depression showed minimal impact on cognitive test results.

Conclusions:

  • High-dose benzodiazepine intake leads to substantial cognitive impairments.
  • These cognitive changes in high-dose BZD users necessitate consideration for patient safety, especially in roles involving risk or responsibility.
  • Further research should explore the long-term cognitive consequences and potential interventions for BZD dependence.