α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor as a Therapeutic Target in Central Nervous System Diseases: Prospects and Limitations

Although α7nAChR agonists hold considerable therapeutic potential, substantial challenges remain in clinical translation. Major hurdles include: (1) the inherent complexity of the CNS microenvironment, which affects receptor pharmacology; (2) insufficient subtype selectivity, leading to off-target effects; and (3) a scarcity of clinically efficacious compounds. Addressing these limitations is crucial for the successful development of α7nAChR-targeted therapies.