Regulation of non-emotional memory through α₁-adrenergic receptors activation: A short review

The α₁ adrenergic receptors (α₁-ARs) play a central role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and memory, but their role in non-emotional memory is still poorly understood. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the functions of α₁-ARs and highlights their contributions to synaptic efficacy, long-term potentiation (LTP), and long-term depression (LTD) in the hippocampus and neocortex. There is evidence that α₁-AR activation occurs through intracellular pathways such as Gq-protein signaling, MAPK, and cAMP cascades. Furthermore, α₁-ARs are emerging as promising therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), due to their capability to modulate cognition and neuronal plasticity. New insights into positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that cross the blood-brain barrier provide a potential avenue for safer and more effective therapies. This review highlights the need for further research to improve the understanding of α₁-ARs and their potential for memory enhancement and neuroprotection.