Post mortem brain tissue of Alzheimer's patients have shown reduction in cholinergic neuronal markers. This is a drawing of the cholinergic pathways. Cholinesterases are found in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In different cell groups in the brain tissue where lesions occur, AChE has been found. It is inhibition of these enzymes that may lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's.
Inhibition can either be competitive or non-competetive.
Hence, an inhibitor may completely block the substarte from reaching the active site or it may inactivate the catalytic activity of the enzyme by binding to to the peripheral site. In one study, two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of two separate manipulations that reduce cholinergic function on visual attentional performance in rats. In the first part, experimenters administered a choline uptake blocker either alone or with an AChE inhibitor. The results indicated that the choline uptake blocker decreased the ability of the rats to localize visual stimuli. However, when combined with the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine , these visual impairments were reversed.