The first neurotransmitter to ever be identified by science, acetylcholine plays a critical role in the synaptic formation of memories. If your body produces less acetylcholine than normal, it's probable that you will have memory problems. It's no surprise, then, that people suffering dementia often have problems with acetylcholine retention at acetylcholine receptors. Moreover, drugs with the side effect of causing memory loss usually also lower acetylcholine levels. Scientists now think that acetylcholine plays a major role in dementia, especially memory issues related to dementia, and that pharmaceuticals targeting that deficiency could be an important aspect of dementia treatment.

Let's examine exactly how acetylcholine functions in the brain. For one thing, acetylcholine isn't just an important player in the formation of short-term memories. In the peripheral nervous system, it is a major activator of muscles and muscle movement, and it is related to the activation of sweat glands, among other roles. But it is in the central nervous system that it acts as a neuromodulator, affecting and regulating our excitability, arousal and reward systems.

Scientists believe that dementia related memory issues stem from the increased breakdown of acetylcholine due to a preponderance of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that degrades acetylcholine. While there are problems with acetylcholinesterase deficiencies, like uncontrollable muscle spasms leading to asphyxiation, too much acetylcholinesterase makes for acetylcholine deficiencies. We need acetylcholine for our muscles to work properly, for our central nervous system to function the way it's meant to, and for the retention of short term memories. With insufficient acetylcholine, the types of symptoms that are most associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease - short term memory loss, disorientation, forgetting the names of loved ones - become pronounced. Science has yet to nail down the exact causes of dementia, but it is confident that acetylcholine plays a major role.