Selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases

Recent developments have yielded a number of selective alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands allowing the critical evaluation of alpha 7 nAChRs as targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. We review the in vitro and in vivo profiles of these alpha 7 nAChR-selective ligands and preliminary data on their use in man.