What are NNRs?

Receptors on nerve cells that act as the "volume knobs" of the nervous system

Where are they?

Throughout the brain and nervous system

What do they do?

Regulate and normalize brain and nervous system function

What do they impact?

Memory, attention, mood, pain, inflammation, movement, and cell survival

What makes them work?

The body's natural activator, acetylcholine (ACh), or potential new drugs that mimic ACh

Which diseases and disorders could NNR-targeted drugs potentially treat?

Major depressive disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and other disorders marked by cognitive impairment, smoking cessation, pain, obesity, addiction, Parkinson's disease, inflammation, depression/anxiety disorders and many others.

How have NNRs been validated as therapeutic targets?

Well-known NNR activator nicotine has been shown to improve symptoms in many different diseases and disorders, setting the stage for new, more selective NNR-targeted drugs with better efficacy and limited side effects.